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General News of Monday, 24 June 2013

Source: joyonline

Petitioners unduly delaying court case - Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary of the ruling NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, is accusing the petitioners of unduly delaying the hearing of the ongoing presidential election petition.

His comment is in reaction to a request made by counsel for the petitioners, Philip Addison, for hearing to be adjourned to enable them peruse the content of the final report of audited pink sheet exhibits submitted by KPMG.

He asked for two days to enable them carefully examine the five-volume document which was presented to the court. He also requested for a soft copy of the final report, a request which was vehemently opposed by the respondents.

The Justices of the Supreme Court rejected Addison’s request for a soft copy and adjourned hearing to Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Monday, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said Lawyer Addison’s request for two days adjournment was without merit and was just intended to delay the case.

According to him, the petitioners can use binoculars to study KPMG’s report, but nothing will change in their favour.

General Mosquito as he is popularly known contended that the petitioners are at a "crossroads" given the findings by KPMG.

He could not fathom why the petitioners would be praying the court for more days when the court had just resumed after 10 days break.

The NDC scribe added that, it is in the interest of the petitioners as well as government to have this case dispensed expeditiously.

He maintained that the Mahama-led administration owes a duty to Ghanaians to deliver on its Better Ghana Agenda promise.

General Mosquito said despite the time being wasted in court, government cannot go back to the electorate after four years and tell them that because of the court case they could not honour those promises.

On the contrary, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, called the bluff of Asiedu Nketia adding that the "NDC is still living in the stone age".

He explained that a soft copy of KPMG’s report would have made it easier for the petitioners to study the report.

Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie underscored the need for transparency in the court case because of its utmost importance not only for the contending litigants but for all Ghanaians.