The much anticipated judgement day has come and gone. But
wait not the biblical one but Ghana’s 2012 election petition.
Guess who was in court on judgement day, the nine member
panel of judges, the petitioners and their lawyers and the respondents and
their lawyers. Is that all? No. some of their loyalists also made it to court.
But I’m quite sure you are disappointed the president
John Mahama whose legitimacy is being challenge was not present, well, it could
be because he was glued to his LED television set sipping his favourite drink .The
contrast however, is that Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo the leader of the main
opposition party was in court but couldn’t have a sip of a drink.
On a more serious note, since the beginning of the
historic hearing of the election petition, I have personally made a pledge not
to comment on the procedure of the court mainly perhaps due to the sanctions
that accompany comments that are seen to be contemptuous.
Alas our airwaves will be relieved of pertinence tribal discussions
that do not address the bread and butter
issue but only serve as a catalyst to divide us and worsen our already
polarized nation.
Lives that could have been at various emergency centres
across the country are busily about their normal duties and properties that have
been acquired over the years are safe for their owners.
You might as well disagree with how some contempt cases
were handled especially at the crucial end of the case and how some sections of
the media almost use it in their favour to paint their political opponents
black.
You might not like the verdict, but let me ask you: what else were you expecting?
Sorry to learn that your political party didn’t win but
at least Ghana won.
The verdict did not only relieve us of the seemingly strain
situation across the country but it has also strengthened our judicial system.
Believe it or not for the judiciary, hearing the election petition was a golden
opportunity to prove all of us wrong about the increasing impression of
corruption within that arm of government.
Hugely, I believe Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo have exhibited
maturity and statesmanship in handling the verdict of the nine member panel of
the Supreme Court. Surprisingly his reaction to the verdict was contrary to
most popular opinions gathered that he may not accept the verdict hence
throwing the nation into catastrophe.
Well I don’t know if you are impressed about the handling
of the case by the nine member panel of judges but I am. I am, because a lot of
tact, wisdom and humour have been woven to drive home the sanctity of the legal
system in Ghana.
But will the end of eight months long political court
battle restore investor confidence in the Ghanaian economy? Perhaps time will
tell.
