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Press Release
August 05, 2013
CAN
JUSTICES,
BE FAIR AND FIRM
The Conservative Alliance Network (CAN), unreservedly commend
all the parties in the ongoing Presidential Petition before the
Supreme Court for the matured manner in which they have all
conducted themselves till now.
Whiles they all deserve some amount of commendation, CAN wishes
to single out the three (3) petitioners namely, Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia and Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey
for special commendation for their noble and patriotic act of
resorting to laid down procedure as set forth in article 64(1)
of the 1992 Constitution.
For the avoidance of doubt, Article 64(1) of the 1992
Constitution stipulates “The validity of the election of the
President may be challenged only by a citizen of Ghana who may
present a petition for the purpose to the Supreme Court within
twenty-one (21) days after the declaration of the result of the
election in respect of which the petition is presented”.
The action of the three petitioners is indeed remarkable and
marks the era of a new dawn on a continent where aggrieved
parties in elections resort to various unconventional means to
seek redress. The 2007 electoral dispute in Kenya is testament
to this fact.
In 2007, Kenya’s main opposition party, the Orange Democratic
Movement led by Raila Odinga resorted to some form of violence
to state their case on allegations of large scale vote rigging
to favor then incumbent President Mwai Kibaki of the Party of
National Unity. The violence culminated in the loss of lives of
thousands of Kenyans and also led to the destruction of property
worth millions of dollars in Kenya.
Thankfully, these illustrious sons and true patriots by their
action ensured that the unpleasant experience of Kenya was
averted in Ghana and have by their action set Ghana on the path
of transition from a democracy to a consolidated democracy.
For any democracy to make such smooth transition, the
overwhelming majority of the populace must come to accept that
any further change to the democratic process must emerge from
within the parameters of the democratic process. Such beliefs
find expression in the daily behavior, attitudes and
constitution of the people concerned. Behaviorally, because no
significant actor(s) attempt to use non-democratic means to
secure a political goal; attitudinally because democratic
procedures and institutions are considered by the vast majority
to be the most preferred way of seeking redress and
constitutionally because actors both governmental and
non-governmental are subject to the laws and institutions of the
democratic process.
Whiles substantial gains have been made in the first
precondition, CAN shudder to say that the attainment of the
second precondition (ie attitudinal) is largely dependent on the
third. Thus, with the confidence reposed in the Judiciary by the
main actors (Petitioners), the vast majority of Ghanaians are
bound to do same in any given instance if justice is seen to
have been served and done by the distinguished Justices of the
highest court of the land. This is paramount, given the enormous
patronage the petition received from Ghanaians as a result of
the live broadcast. Thus the majority of Ghanaians are well
informed and abreast with all the facts concerning the matter,
that we currently have a make or break situation in our hands.
With allegations rife, that some justices have been compromised,
CAN has no doubt that the justices of the Supreme Court will not
in the least of circumstance sacrifice their long years of
commitment, dedication, perseverance and toil which has landed
them at the very pinnacle of their career on the altar of any
short term gain which will end up eroding all they have strived
to build for themselves and families over the years.
CAN has no doubt, that in the end, Ghanaians would be left with
nothing other than a judgment which would ultimately save our
democracy by not endangering future elections.
We are confident that the Justices will resist all forms of
pressure and inducement from all quarters and hand unto the
Ghanaian people a verdict which will further boost the
confidence reposed in that institution.
Thank You.
Patriot Faisal Ibrahim 0242330330
Paa Williams 0262208956
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