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 [1]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.
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 [3] with former national football team players on 26 August, 2013, to pledge peace and unity.
Tweeting about peace, Viasat 1 Ghana (@Viasat1Ghana [4]) 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 [5]
The Obroni (@I_LoveAzonto [6]) advised:
later today when #Ghana [7] 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 [8]
Esau Yakub (@MisterYakube [9]) reminded Ghanaians about Martin Luther King's message:
#Ghana [7] remember Martin Luther King's effective message of peace going into tomorrow's #ElectionPetition [10] #NPP [11] #NDC [12] #MLK [13] #AfricaUnite [14]
— Esau Yakub (@MisterYakub) August 28, 2013 [15]
DKS (@DoWuSem [16]) prayed:
The verdict on the #ElectionPetition [10] is today. “God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong…”
— DKS (@DoWuSem) August 29, 2013 [17]
Akua Blakofe (@MsBlakofe [18]) 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 [10] #theverdict [19]
— Akua Blakofe (@MsBlakofe) August 28, 2013 [20]
As expected, security personnel are on high alert as Ghana Elections (@ghanaelections [21]) reported:
Security men on high alert as they deploy more personnel to known flash points across the country @MetrotvGhana [22] #electionpetition [23]
— ghanaelections (@ghanaelections) August 28, 2013 [24]
Some businesses will not sell alcohol today, Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm [25]) reported:
#ElectionPetition [10]: Drinking spot operators in #Ghana [7] say they would “not sell” alcohol as their contribution to the process. #peace [26] #verdict [27]
— Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm) August 29, 2013 [28]
Police sirens have been blazing since morning, tweeted web developer A Hesse (@ArmahH [29]):
Police Sirens blazing since 5am. #verdict [27] #judgementday [30] #pressure [31] #Accra [32] #ElectionPetition [10] #Ghana [7]
— A Hesse (@ArmahH) August 29, 2013 [33]
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 [34]
It looks like a holiday, noted Sylvester Addo (@silverscholar [35])
My street is so void of the usual early morning workers, looks more like a holiday morning. #supremecourtverdict [36] #electionpetition [23] #Accra [32]
— Sylvester Addo (@silverscholar) August 29, 2013 [37]
According to broadcast journalist Benjamin Tetteh (@benjieluv [38]) in Accra, shops are closed and even markets are empty:
#Accra [32] Business District virtually empty today. Market folks opt to stay home and follow declaration of #ElectionPetition [10] verdict today
— Benjamin Tetteh (@benjieluv) August 29, 2013 [39]
Nnenna (@nnenna [40]) asked:
Does the silence and “peace” in Ghana today prove that noise is generated by politics? Think before you answer #TheVerdict [41] #ElectionPetition [10]
— Nnenna (@nnenna) August 29, 2013 [42]
winvoyah wñ (@nderba_nderba [43]) stated why he thinks the judgement is important:
Today the supreme court rules on #electionpetition [23] #Ghana [7]. Its big deal, its a matter of who gets to spend my taxes with his family/friends
— winvoyah wñ (@nderba_nderba) August 29, 2013 [44]
Nnenna (@nnenna [40]), an activist and trainer, asked:
Anyone in #Ghana [7] will livetweet #electionpetition [23] decision tomorrow?
— Nnenna (@nnenna) August 28, 2013 [45]
Ghanaian writer and blogger Jemila Abdulai (@jabdulai [46]) announced:
What: The @GhanaDecides [47] SC Verdict G+ Hangout | When: Friday, August 30 at 1pm GMT | Follow @GhanaDecides [47], #TheVerdict [41] #ElectionPetition [10]
— Jemila Abdulai (@jabdulai) August 28, 2013 [48]
Kofi Yeboah (@kofiemeritus [49]), Ghanaian blogger and Global Voices author, warned foreign media:
Be warned foreign media! Report authentically on the upcoming pronouncement of #TheVerdict [41] in Ghana. #ElectionPetition [10]
— Kofi Yeboah (@kofiemeritus) August 29, 2013 [50]
Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm [51]) said that Ghanaians have been asked to celebrate in moderation:
#ElectionPetition [10]: National #Security [52] cordinator asks “victors” to celebrate in moderation. #Ghana [7] #verdict [27] #Peace [53]
— Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm) August 29, 2013 [54]
Finally, Nnenna (@nnenna [40]) had a dream:
I have a dream. That today, judges that will give #theVerdict [55] of Ghana's #electionPetition [56] will read it at 2:33 PM and make it #233moments [57]
— Nnenna (@nnenna) August 29, 2013 [58]