General Secretary of the governing National Democratic
Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, says the Chairman of the
Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan deserves a
"national award" following the outcome of the presidential election
petition.
According to him, the EC boss in the face of political
pressure, threats and intimidation from the opposition New
Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2012, discharged his constitutional
mandate with excellence.
The Supreme Court on Thursday August 29 dismissed an election
petition filed by the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo and
two others praying the court to overturn the EC’s decision in the
2012 election which pronounced John Mahama as
president.
The court by a majority decision declared John Mahama as a
validly elected president in 2012. The petitioners though
“disappointed” have accepted the ruling noting that they won’t seek
review.
The first petitioner, Nana Akufo-Addo conceded defeat and
called for a national reconciliation to move Ghana
forward.
Several people, both home and abroad have commended the
petitioners for not resorting to violence.
But Asiedu Nketia on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on
Friday stated emphatically that the petitioners, especially Nana
Akufo-Addo, deserves no praise.
He said the petition was a waste of time and resource because
the country has incurred more debt as a result of the live coverage
and ensuring security at the court.
Asiedu Nketia contended that the court was not the first
option of the NPP leader who he accused of setting his [Nana]
infamous All-die-be-die mantra into motion after John Mahama was
declared winner of the 2012 election.
Citing the gathering of aggrieved NPP members at Obra Spot in
Accra to corroborate his claims, the NDC scribe alleged that it was
part of Nana Addo's grand scheme to plunge the country into
chaos.
General Mosquito, as he is popularly called, maintained that
the NPP flagbearer only went to court after he [Nana] had exhausted
all options.
Juxtaposing the role of Nana Addo to that of Afari-Gyan in
ensuring peace in the country, Asiedu Nketia believes the latter
has been exceptional.
"Such display of courage and showmanship by Dr. Afari Gyan
should not go unnoticed" General Mosquito stressed.
