Prez Mahama wishes Ghanaians joy, prosperity and good health in 2013 (2)

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STATEMENT: National Council Reaffirms Backing For NPP Court Case

03 Jan 2013

The National Council of the New Patriotic Party has reaffirmed its backing for the petition filed by the three petitioners (namely, Messrs Nana Akufo-Addo, Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey), at the Supreme Court, challenging the validity of the results of the 2012 Presidential Election as declared by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari Djan, on Sunday, December 9, 2012.

At today’s meeting, the National Council, which is the highest decision-making body of the party,other than the National Delegate Conference, also decided and directed that the party shall boycott the planned January 7 inauguration ceremony of John Dramani Mahama and Kwesi Amissah Arthur, as President and Vice President of the Republic, respectively. This decision is binding on all members of the NPP, including parliamentarians.

We take this important decision in order to underline the critical principle of any democracy that the results of an election should reflect the voice of the majority of voters, not the voice of those who count, collate or declare the results.

It is our contention that the declaration made by the Electoral Commission did not reflect this principle. Hence, our challenge in the Supreme Court of the validity of the election of John Dramani Mahama as President of the Republic.

We take this opportunity to remind the general public and our supporters that the scheduled inauguration of John Dramani Mahama as President of the Republic is without prejudice to the outcome of the case in the Supreme Court.

We urge our supporters to continue to remain calm as we seek justice in the Supreme Court. The petitioners have put their case before Court, and we leave it for the Court to judge its merits. The NPP, by this case, is seeking to deepen our democracy by strengthening the institutions that are mandated by the Constitution of the Republic to superintend the electoral process: (1) by ensuring that the Electoral Commission is accountable to the people of Ghana, and (2) the Supreme Court is seen by all as the ultimate arbiter of electoral grievances and disputes.

We intend at all times to ensure that the will of the Ghanaian people is upheld, and we do seek to uphold the sanctity of the ballot through peaceful, legitimate means.

We wish you a happy New Year.

......signed......

Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie

NPP General Secretary

Source: Communications Directorate, NPP/Ghana