Ghana Awaits Judgement in Legal Battle for Presidency · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Ghanaian Supreme Court will decide today August 29, 2013 whether Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama was legitimately elected following presidential polls held on 7 and 8 December, 2012. The petition is considered the biggest legal battle in Ghana's history.
President Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won the election with 50.70 percent of the votes, beating his main challenger Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who polled 47.7 percent of the votes.
The opposition NPP challenged the results arguing that there were gross and widespread irregularities at more than 10,000 polling stations.
NPP's projected the results showing Nana Ado winning. Photo source: Nana Ado (NPP's presidential candidate) Facebook page.
The hearing of the petition began on 16 April, 2013. The petitioners are NPP's presidential candidate Nana Akuffo Addo, his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and NPP national chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey. The respondents are President John Mahama, the Electoral Commission and the ruling National Democratic Congress.
Ghanaians and friends of Ghana have been tweeting messages of peace as the whole country anxiously await for the verdict. In an attempt to create atmosphere of peace ahead of the verdict, Ghana's political parties played a football match with former national football team players on 26 August, 2013, to pledge peace and unity.
Tweeting about peace, Viasat 1 Ghana (@Viasat1Ghana) wrote:
As the Supreme Court rules on the Election Petition case today, let's show the world that we are a peaceful nation, no matter the verdict..
— Viasat 1 Ghana (@Viasat1Ghana) August 29, 2013
The Obroni (@I_LoveAzonto) advised:
later today when #Ghana SC gives their decision, remember spread love not hate. Only love can move us forward, hate is what brings us down
— The Obroni (@I_LoveAzonto) August 29, 2013
Esau Yakub (@MisterYakube) reminded Ghanaians about Martin Luther King's message:
#Ghana remember Martin Luther King's effective message of peace going into tomorrow's #ElectionPetition #NPP #NDC #MLK #AfricaUnite
— Esau Yakub (@MisterYakub) August 28, 2013
DKS (@DoWuSem) prayed:
The verdict on the #ElectionPetition is today. “God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong…”
— DKS (@DoWuSem) August 29, 2013
Akua Blakofe (@MsBlakofe) pleaded with fellow Ghanaians:
no politician is worth killing or dying for.So pls let's accept the verdict tmr.God bless our homeland Ghana.#ElectionPetition #theverdict
— Akua Blakofe (@MsBlakofe) August 28, 2013
As expected, security personnel are on high alert as Ghana Elections (@ghanaelections) reported:
Security men on high alert as they deploy more personnel to known flash points across the country @MetrotvGhana #electionpetition
— ghanaelections (@ghanaelections) August 28, 2013
Some businesses will not sell alcohol today, Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm) reported:
#ElectionPetition: Drinking spot operators in #Ghana say they would “not sell” alcohol as their contribution to the process. #peace #verdict
— Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm) August 29, 2013
Police sirens have been blazing since morning, tweeted web developer A Hesse (@ArmahH):
Police Sirens blazing since 5am. #verdict #judgementday #pressure #Accra #ElectionPetition #Ghana
— A Hesse (@ArmahH) August 29, 2013
The streets were empty early morning today in Accra, the capital city:
its 4:25 am in accra ghana and all streets are empty waiting for our venerable judges to deliver their verdict on the election petition case
— jesse oteng eric (@OtengJesse) August 29, 2013
It looks like a holiday, noted Sylvester Addo (@silverscholar)
My street is so void of the usual early morning workers, looks more like a holiday morning. #supremecourtverdict #electionpetition #Accra
— Sylvester Addo (@silverscholar) August 29, 2013
According to broadcast journalist Benjamin Tetteh (@benjieluv) in Accra, shops are closed and even markets are empty:
#Accra Business District virtually empty today. Market folks opt to stay home and follow declaration of #ElectionPetition verdict today
— Benjamin Tetteh (@benjieluv) August 29, 2013
Nnenna (@nnenna) asked:
Does the silence and “peace” in Ghana today prove that noise is generated by politics? Think before you answer #TheVerdict #ElectionPetition
— Nnenna (@nnenna) August 29, 2013
winvoyah wñ (@nderba_nderba) stated why he thinks the judgement is important:
Today the supreme court rules on #electionpetition #Ghana. Its big deal, its a matter of who gets to spend my taxes with his family/friends
— winvoyah wñ (@nderba_nderba) August 29, 2013
Nnenna (@nnenna), an activist and trainer, asked:
Anyone in #Ghana will livetweet #electionpetition decision tomorrow?
— Nnenna (@nnenna) August 28, 2013
Ghanaian writer and blogger Jemila Abdulai (@jabdulai) announced:
What: The @GhanaDecides SC Verdict G+ Hangout | When: Friday, August 30 at 1pm GMT | Follow @GhanaDecides, #TheVerdict #ElectionPetition
— Jemila Abdulai (@jabdulai) August 28, 2013
Kofi Yeboah (@kofiemeritus), Ghanaian blogger and Global Voices author, warned foreign media:
Be warned foreign media! Report authentically on the upcoming pronouncement of #TheVerdict in Ghana. #ElectionPetition
— Kofi Yeboah (@kofiemeritus) August 29, 2013
Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm) said that Ghanaians have been asked to celebrate in moderation:
#ElectionPetition: National #Security cordinator asks “victors” to celebrate in moderation. #Ghana #verdict #Peace
— Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm) August 29, 2013
Finally, Nnenna (@nnenna) had a dream:
I have a dream. That today, judges that will give #theVerdict of Ghana's #electionPetition will read it at 2:33 PM and make it #233moments
— Nnenna (@nnenna) August 29, 2013