Pollster and Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson says the attempt by the legal team of the petitioners in the ongoing election dispute to hinder Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata from cross-examining Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, principal witness, was an indictment on the part of the petitioners.

He said on Radio Gold’s newspaper review that the attempt indicated that Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, Counsel for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), was no mere legal practitioner but one whose value cannot be undermined.

In his assessment, Tsatsu in cross-examining Dr. Bawumia proved to the court and Ghanaians his level of competence, explaining that the essence of cross-examination is to “punch holes” in the witness’ petition and, therefore, make him “lack credibility”, exactly what to him, the NDC Counsel did.

He said the cross-examination by Lawyer Tony Lithur gave him (Tsatsu) the upper hand to discover the loopholes in the evidence presented by the petitioners.

He, therefore, commended Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, saying he had an effect on Dr. Bawumia’s demeanor by taking a critical look at the legal exchange between him and the lawyer for the second respondent, President John Mahama.

In an interview with Radio Gold, Ben Ephson said “the first acknowledgement whether Tsatsu is good or not was the attempt to stop him.

“Once the court had agreed for the NDC to be joined as an interested party, that means, they had a stake in the outcome. The outcome will be affected by the cross-examination. So, I think that Tsatsu had an effect…Strategically if I were them, I would never object. The attempt to try and block Tsatsu in itself was a very serious indictment, an acknowledgement that the man, you may like him, you may hate him; he has something. Otherwise, why try to stop him?”

He also expressed his thought about the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, saying Ghanaians will “enjoy” him when he takes his turn in the witness box.