General News of Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Source: Charles Addo

Don’t complain when you lose substantive case- Sir John tells NDC

Outspoken General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, has cautioned President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to cry foul should the Supreme Court overturn the presidential results.

The Supreme Court this morning granted a 6-3 majority decision to the joinder motion brought by the ruling NDC seeking to be joined to the election petition filed by members of the NPP.

Mr. Afriyie, otherwise known as Sir John, in an interview with the media after the court ruling stated that the NPP is comfortable and will respect the decision of the court, adding that the party will not contest the decision.

“Now, we are heading to hear the substantive matter that is before the Supreme Court, my joy is that now that the NDC is being joined once the case goes against them then they would have no bases to complain that they were not given the opportunity, so I’m very excited about today’s judgment,” he added.

He said court cases are “win, lose” situations, therefore, the party leadership and supporters will remain calm for the substantive case to commence.

“… The judges have spoken so the way is cleared now for the real matter to begin, that is what we are waiting for”, Sir John retorted.

However, the spokesperson for the NDC legal team, Nana Ato Dadzie, observed that Article 65 of the Constitution affirms that NDC as a party had every right to go to Court and join the process.

“The ruling means that the NDC which sponsored President Mahama’s candidature will have the right to take part in the actual case at the court”, he stressed.