By The Fire Side

Little village of Tom lay placid and platitude owing to slight showers that afternoon.

The evening was quite, only the chipping of crickets and the hideous sound of frogs could be heard, “Kokak-Koka”. But the brilliant glow of the full moon threw shadows of even the smallest pin.

Agya Kofi sat in a raised platform in front of his hut flanked by children who had come to listen to tales. The children sat astride on stools piercing their eyes firmly and deeply to Agya Kofi.

Agya Kofi: Tales forbade noise so let this place be as quite as cemetery and let me tell you nice story. (He dropped his pipe from his month and adjusted his seat. Very unusual of him, he did not tell them the always-anticipated folktales about the cunning Kweku Ananse or the adventures of the Animal Kingdom

 Agya Kofi: Today, I want to take you down the memory lane and tell you a story about Ama Ghana. A very long, long time ago, before all of you were born, Ama Ghana was known as the gate-way to Africa and a beacon of peace in Africa, probably because it people were peace-loving who embraced democracy as handed down to them by their colonial masters.

The dominant political parties at the time were the NDC and the NPP. Then came the fiercely contested 2012 General Elections which the NDC won. The NPP having lost the elections, rant and raved. They said, “No we would not accept the verdict as declared by the electoral commission Chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan”. They took the matter to the Supreme Court; the highest court of the land led their flag bearer Nana Akuffo Addo, his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and their party chairman, Obetsebi Lamptey.

At the Supreme Court, we had nine panels of Justices who were selected to adjudicate the case. They were Justice William Atuguba, the President of the nine Judges, Justice Anim Yeboah, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, Justice Dotsey, Justice Ansah, Justice Adinyera, Justice Gbadegbe, Justice Akoto Bamfo and Justice Owusu

The NDC was led by Tsatsu Tsikata, the NPP by Thomas Addison, the electoral commission by Quashie – Idun and finally the president led by Tony Lithur.

The somewhat feet-dragging case soon started. The chief witness of the NPP or the Petitioners was Dr. Bawumia who was known for his prowess in diagnosing the economy.

Their evidence before the court centered on six key areas; over-voting, voting without biometric verification, absence of signature of the presiding officer, duplicate serial numbers, duplicate polling station codes and unknown polling stations. He was drilled and heckled by the lawyers of the first, second and third respondents who were the president, the electoral commission and the NDC respectively

Many citizens soon became abreast of the legal jargon s such as “I suggest to you”, “I put it to you”, “further and better particulars”, “affidavit” ”retrospective penalty” “and amicus curie”. It became not uncommon for people of all walks of life’s to discuss freely about, “pink sheet” “further and better 0particulars” and “affidavit”

As was very particular of Ghanaians, all of them turned into pocket lawyers and armchair judges.

 Dr. Bawumia was noted for his infamous expression “you and I were not there” and “the evidence lies on the face of the pink sheet”

Asiedu Nketia, Chief witness of the second and third respondents also mounted the witness box and as usual was subjected to hot grilling. He was not without some sense of humor, and once bellowed when he was pushed to the wall, “a village palm wine tapper like me may not be conversant with the law”.

The electoral commission was represented by its chairman Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan. He took turns with his evidence in chief. He was however never let off the hook without hot and fierce cross-examination by the led counsel of the petitioners, Philip Addision. At a point, Addison grumbled, “I will push you until you hit the wall and you will bounce back and I will hit you again”. But Afari Gyan was not a push over; he stuck to his guns often saying “my lords that cannot be true”

This went on without any casualty until some armchair lawyers and so-called pundit started running unsavory comments which were considered albatross against judicial jurisprudence and national safety. The judges issued a stern warning against those armchair experts

Awuni: Did that deter the people from making such comments?

Agya Kofi: Certainly not children, the first to fall foul of that caution was the Deputy Director of Communication of the NPP, and was immediately summoned before that court for contempt. He was however only cautioned to refrain from making such comment and barred from court the rest of the proceedings. But it appears that was not enough to deter people, Ken Kuranchie, an editor-in-chief of a pro-NPP newspaper and Stephen Atubiga, a communication member of the NDC also incurred the wrath of the nine justices. This time around the justices stamped on their authority and handed Ken Kuranchie ten days imprisonment and Stephen Atubiga 3 day’s imprisonment

Apoka: Why did the judges give Ken Kuranchie 10 days and Stephen Atubiga only 3 days?

Agya Kofi: Brilliant question my child; According to the justices, Ken Kuranchie was not remorseful for his contemptuous statement but Stephen Atubiga clawed on the ground begging “I’m responsible for my irresponsible comment”, “ am sorry from the bottom of my heart”. And his answer to a question posed to him by Justice Atuguba asking him where he comes from sent the court to eye watering laughter, “I am just a poor boy from Binduri”

Aku: Then nobody dared made a distasteful comment again?

Agya Kofi: Far from that Aku, the General Secretary of the NPP, a renowned lawyer of 32 years experience also crossed the line and was dragged before the court. The Judges at this point cracked down the whip on people making such comments especially politicians’.  Justice Atubuga bellowed, “Those of you who dabble in irresponsible commentary are indulging in illegal political galamsey”. Lest, I forget, Sir John, as Owusu Afriyie was affectionately called, was dragged before the court alongside Hopeson Adorye, a member of the communication team of the NPP.

Owing to apologies the judges received from civil authorities like the national peace council pleading the justices to tamper Justice with mercy and probably because of night vigil some prayer groups held for divine intervention on behalf of those contemnors, the court only fined Sir John and Adorye, ¢5,000 and ¢2,000 respectively

On the 47^th day, all the lawyers for both the petitioner and the respondents presented their final addresses before the court and 29^th August, 2013, was set as the day for the court to pronounce its verdict.
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Agya Kofi: Eei children! It’s 11:00pm and the moon light is becoming dim. We must go and sleep because tomorrow you would go to farm
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Esi: Awww! Grandpa, so who won the Verdict?

 Agya Kofi: On the D. Day, everybody was sitting on the tenterhooks, it was feet tapping and heart gripping moment. People feared the outcome of the verdict could plunge the country into war. Some people booked Visas; others stuffed various foods in their rooms ranging from “konkonte” to “Kelewele” and others too were planning to loot shops in case there is war. And on the day of the verdict, the whole country was as dead as the cemetery. Everybody feared to go out. They glued to their TV sets, radios and earpieces.

Contrary to their expectation, the 8 months dragging proceedings was summarized in less than 5 minutes. Justice Atuguba slammed his gavel for silence and cleared his throat, “after careful scrutiny of the evidences before this court, the first respondent was validly elected and the petition is therefore dismissed".

Children: (in chorus) Oooooww! Poor NPP!

Agya Kofi: Children, I will continue to tell you the reaction of both the petitioner and the respondents after the verdict tomorrow. (The cocks begun to cry, signaling that day was fast approaching. All the children, some of them awaken from their sleep dispersed to their various homes.

                                       Writer: Abdul Karim Mohammed A.

                                                     University of Cape-Coast.

                                       Email:Abdulkarimmohammeda@yahoo.com

                                       blog:Abdulkarimmohammedawaf'sblogspot