[ 2021-02-23 ]

Supreme Court fixes March 4 as judgement day for 2020 election petition
The Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, March 4,
2021 as the judgement day for the 2020
presidential election petition.
Counsel for the petitioner, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata has
been directed to file his closing written address
before the close of day on Tuesday, February 23,
2021.



The court had initially ordered all the parties in
the petition to file their closing addresses by
February 17, 2021.

The two respondents in the petition, (Electoral
Commission and President Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo) filed their closing addresses in
conformity with the Supreme Court order for all
the parties to simultaneously file written
addresses on or before Wednesday [February 17,
2021].

However, the legal team for the petitioner, former
President John Dramani Mahama did not file their
written address as ordered by the court.

First review: EC not to adduce evidence



They rather filed a review application which
challenged the ruling of the court, dated February
11, this year, which overruled an objection by the
lawyer for the petitioner, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata,
against the decision of the Electoral Commission
(EC) not to adduce evidence.

They also filed an application for stay of
proceedings, and urged the court to put the
petition on hold until the final determination of
the review application.

Second review: Reopen case

PEGAS RANA MOTTORS
When the first review failed after the order of
the court on filing of addresses, the petitioner
filed a second review which challenged the ruling
of the court, dated February 16, this year, which
dismissed the petitioner's application to reopen
his case with the plan to subpoena the EC
Chairperson as a "hostile witness".

The petitioner also filed another application for
stay of proceedings, and urged the court to put
the petition on hold until the final determination
of the review application.



But that was also unanimously dismissed on Monday,
February 22, 2021 by the nine-member panel.

Read also: Mahama loses second review application
in election petition

At the court sitting Monday, Mr Tsikata in asking
for leave to file the closing address told the
court that they did not file the address earlier
because of the pending applications for stay of
proceedings and review.

Counsel for the first and second respondents
opposed the application for leave by the
petitioner to file the address.

The Supreme Court however ruled that in the
interest of justice, the petitioner should file
the written address by Tuesday, February 23,
2021.

Mr Tsikata asked the court if counsel would be
given an opportunity to orally address the court
and highlight some major points in the address.

But the court said no, and that, that opportunity
has been passed and that the petition has been
adjourned to March 4, 2021 for judgement.

The court however said, if the judges read the
written addresses and there is the need for
clarification, it will give the directions.

Source - Graphic Online

... go Back