Ghana’s opposition files court papers to challenge 2020 poll results
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Lawyers for Ghana’s opposition leader, John Mahama have filed court papers at the country’s supreme court challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The filing of the court papers took place on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 in the capital Accra.
On Tuesday the opposition party the NDC said its National Executive Committee (NEC) has approved the party’s decision to go to court to challenge the results of the 2020 elections.
Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo won re-election to serve another four year term in office.
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He was declared winner of the presidential election by the country’s electoral commission chairperson on December 9, 2020.
President Akufo-Addo won by 51.59 percent with his closest rival, the former president, John Mahama securing 47.36 per cent of votes.
“At the end of the polls, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party, obtained 6,730,413 votes, being 51.595% of the total valid votes cast.” Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the electoral commission told a news conference.
But the opposition party and its leader, John Mahama rejected the results refusing to concede defeat.
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The opposition has insisted that the government with support from the electoral commission rigged the election, a claim that has been rejected by both parties.
In a statement the NDC said shortly after the court papers were filed that “The Petition was filed pursuant to the party‘s audit of the 2020 Presidential results and extensive consultations with the National Executive Committee and Council of Elders of the party.
The Petition details serious violations of the 1992 Constitution by the Electoral Commission and its Chairperson and Returning Officer for the Presidential Election, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa in the conduct of their constitutional and legal responsibilities.
It seeks among others, a declaration from the Supreme Court to the effect that, the purported declaration of the results of the 2020 Presidential Election on the 9th day of December 2020 is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
The former president, Mahama said on Wednesday in a tweet that “while in court, the NDC will continue all legitimate actions, including protests, to demand the enforcement of the rule of law and protection of life and property of the good people of Ghana.”
While in court, the NDC will continue all legitimate actions, including protests, to demand the enforcement of the rule of law and protection of life and property of the good people of Ghana.
2/2#RespectMyVote— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) December 30, 2020
Source: Africafeeds.com
