The battle of evidence is over – Atuguba declares

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Created on Thursday, 18 July 2013 00:00

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The battle of evidence is over – Atuguba declares

Justice William Atuguba, President of the panel hearing the election petition Wednesday paraphrased Dr Kwame Nkrumah's famous statement “at long last the battle is ended" to signal the end of the long-drawn Supreme Court hearing.

The statement was after counsel for the parties signaled to the court that they were done with their arguments. Justice Atuguba then said, "At long last the battle of evidence has ended," to a rapturous applause.

Justice Atuguba also told Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) that telling people to go to court as he does is not that simple, which got the court room bursting into laughter. His declaration summed up the hearing of day 46 in the election petition filed by three Petitioners, Nana Akuffo Addo, the Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsibi Lamptey, NPP chairman.

The three petitioners are praying the Supreme Court to overturn the results declared by Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), making President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the winner of the 2012 elections. The Election Petition hearing began on 16th April 2013.

Mr Philip Addison, lead Counsel for the petitioners also concluded his cross examination of Dr Afari Gyan, witness of the EC to end the presentation of evidence by the petitioners.

Mr Addison indicated yesterday that he was done with his cross-examination but Mr James Quarshie-Idun, Counsel for the EC brought in fresh pink sheets during his re-examination of the witness.

Mr Addison then insisted that the petitioners need to cross-examine Dr. Afari Gyan on those new pink sheets.

Mr Addison, in cross examining the witness on the fresh pink sheets, pointed out the polling stations with triplicate and quadruplicates serial numbers.

Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, Counsel for the NDC also sought a leave from the court to do three minutes of re-examination of the witness.

Mr Tsikata then asked the witness if a particular polling station had been divided into two (A and B) by the EC, which the witness confirmed.

Justice Atuguba however said the question by Mr Tsikata has been settled by the EC already.

Mr Tsikata however maintained that, that particular polling station has been disputed by the petitioners.

Justice Atuguba intervenes again saying the dispute is not important and that the respondent can raise issues in their addresses to the courts.

Mr Tony Lithur, Counsel for President John Mahama said he would not re-examine the witness.

Source: GNA