The Supreme Court has dismissed the joinder application brought by 327 supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), who wanted to join the petition challenging the declaration of President John Dramani Mahama, as the winner of the December 2012 election.
The Court ruled that the applicants were not needed in the case.
The 327 voters had wanted to join the election petition arguing that the elections were so transparent that there were no disputes after the declaration of the results.
The ruling followed preliminary arguments in Court Thursday morning in which lawyer for the applicants Komla Senanu stated that his clients were citizens and interested parties in the case.
He argued that his clients could be affected by the outcome of the case for which reason they had to be joined.
The applicants came from some 11,000 polling stations where the petitioners- Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr Mahamamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey – are alleging that widespread irregularities were recorded in the 2012 General elections.
But Lawyers for the petitioners argued the over 300 joinder applicants only wanted to delay the hearing of the case which challenging the declaration of President Mahama as winner of the 2012 presidential election.
Lead lawyer Philip Addison argued the court will open the flood gates for needless joinder applications if it granted that of the applicants.
He said it would amount to making a mockery of the judicial process if the court allowed the applicants to join.
The judges of the Supreme Court agreed with the argument of the petitioners and dismissed the application.
The nine-member panel were Justice William Atuguba, Justice Julius Ansah, Mrs Justice Sophia Adinyira, Justice Rose Owusu and Justice Jones Dotse.
The others were Justice Annin Yeboah, Justice P. Baffoe Bonnie, Justice N.S. Gbadegbe and Mrs Justice Vida Akoto Bamfo.
Posts
