Judgement is national victory — Political parties

Spontaneous jubilation greeted the Supreme Court verdict at the headquarters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday.
No sooner had the President of the Supreme Court Panel, Justice William Atuguba, delivered the judgement than the people who had gathered started shouting “let the music flow.”

While some people danced to the music blaring from the speakers, others threw themselves on the ground thanking God for the judgement going in their favour.

The situation made the interviews being conducted by journalists very difficult, since the music from the speakers mounted at vantage points drowned every conversation at the premises.

Some NDC party stalwarts at the premises were Mr Aseidu Nketiah, the General Secretary; Dr Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman of NDC; Mr E.T Mensah, MP for Ningo Prapram; Mr Gyan Boateng, National Organiser; Mr  Kofi Adams, Deputy General Secretary, and Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, a former Minister of Local Government.

Addressing a news conference later, Mr Nketiah urged all Ghanaians irrespective of “their political, religious, social and economic background, to celebrate the collective achievement with a common sense of purpose’’

Mr Nketia explained that it was neither an NDC victory nor NPP defeat but a Ghanaian success.

PPP

Commenting on the verdict, the founder of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, called on Ghanaians to embrace the Supreme Court judgement and focus on reforms that would help “us to avoid similar petitions in the future, writes Dominic Moses Awiah.

In a statement issued shortly after the verdict was given, Dr Nduom said since both the petitioners and respondents put their trust in the Supreme Court to deliver justice, “we must all collectively say it is over and move on”.

“There is more to this God-given life than politics.  So we must all join hands to fight poverty in all its forms - disease, unemployment, bad roads, poor education etc,” the statement said.

It said Ghana must use the opportunity provided by the Constitutional Review process going on to make the society an inclusive one.

GCPP

For his part, the Chairman of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Dr Henry Herbert Lartey hailed the ruling of the Supreme Court, describing its as a reflection of the will of Ghanaians.

“It is time for Ghanaians to forge together as one nation and wage war against poverty, sickness and issues that affect the well-being of ordinary Ghanaians. We must see the verdict of the judges as an opportune time to become one country,” he said.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Lartey, who was also the flag bearer of the GCPP in the December 2012 election, commended the nine judges for exhibiting what he termed as ‘maturity and confidence’.

He also called for an end to the “winner takes all” politics, which he said had not helped the economy of Africa, especially, Ghana.

“There must be a way for each one of us, whether we belong to the winning political party or not, to contribute towards the effective growth and development of Ghana,”.

PNC

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention in the 2012 election, Mr Hassan Ayariga for his part, called on Ghanaians to see the verdict of the Supreme Court as a victory for Ghana, writes Emmanuel Bonney & Fred Dzakpata.

“I think Ghana has come out victorious and I want to thank Nana Akufo-Addo and the leadership of the New Patriotic Party for accepting the verdict in good faith.

“He has demonstrated to Ghanaians that he believed in the rule of law by accepting the verdict and in our history we would one day know the essence of today’s ruling,” he said.

He stated further that the judgement was the best for the country‘s democracy.

Mr Ayariga who was speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra following the Supreme Court verdict on the 2012 election, also called on the leadership and supporters of the NDC not to jubilate but rather focus on working to improve on the general development of the country.

“I do not see the need for jubilation, especially, when supporters of the NDC jubilated after the Electoral Commission pronounced John Mahama President in the 2012 election.

Mr Ayariga urged Ghanaians to continue to live in peace and harmony.

By Abdul Aziz/Daily Graphic/Ghana