As the landmark case of electoral fraud pending before the nation’s highest court gradually comes to a close, people are anxious to receive the verdict with varied expectations. While some fret about the verdict others are calm about it. But whichever way the pendulum swings Ghana should be the winner after all.

Given the nature of the petition before the court, it has taken the jury a bit longer to hear the case and return the verdict. Indeed the approach taken by the Aguba- led panel to judge the case is time-consuming but has provided the platform for most Ghanaians including the nine Justices to learn a lot as well as get clarification from the proceedings. This will in no small way deepen and consolidate our hard-earned democracy if the verdict from these nine eminent judges is handle to its utmost perfection. August is just by the corner and very soon the court will examine the reports from both the respondents and the petitioners. After examining the reports, the court will drop the much awaited ruling. If the pendulum happens to swing in party A’s favour, the court will be just. If it goes otherwise the court is unjust. The same is true for party B. Such is the mindset of Ghanaian politicians. Even though, each of the parties is expecting victory, only and only one party will emerge victorious. Members of each of the two parties must keep this in mind and come to the realization that what they are struggling to take control over is just the one Ghana we have. If we anchored to our seemingly entrenched positions without softening stance regardless of the Supreme Court decision, Ghana will find itself in a serious state of anarchy. This can plunge the nation into civil war similar to what countries like Libya, Mali, Egypt, Ivory Coast, etc have experienced. The youth of this country must therefore be reminded of the saying that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The greedy politicians and the so called freedom fighters will be the first to have maximum protection and possibly flee the country should there be any uprising. Women and children who are the most vulnerable will be left to their fate. The youth of this country will be used by these ravenous politicians to do the unthinkable. We have come a long way with our democracy as Ghanaians and must not allow our hard earned reputation as the beacon of democracy in Africa to be thrown into the gutters by the evil works of unscrupulous, shady and unsavoury characters. Ghanaians must be commended so far for not spilling a drop of bloody after hearing so many dirty but inciting comments on the air waves since December 2012.

As stated earlier, if victory goes in favour of the petitioners or the respondents, it should be seen as victory for all Ghanaians. Peace is a vital ingredient in our life that should never be toyed with. As the author of this article, I wish the verdict goes in my favour but if it goes otherwise, I am ever ready to accept it. Are you also ready to accept it no matter whose favour it is? Let us all uphold the verdict in the interest of peace and unity.

Nantomah Mustapha (0248798474)