Managing Editor of the "Insight" newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has wondered aloud what will happen should the final verdict of the Supreme Court on the election petition suit go against one of the two major political parties; the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Pratt has also raised issues with remarks by some members of the general public that whichever party the Supreme Court�s final decision favours, it should be accepted by all.
Citing the NPP's decision to contest the 2012 electoral results by filing a petition at the Supreme Court to buttress his point, the seasoned journalist sought to find out if the nine-member panel adjudicating on the case are the only people in the country comprehensively knowledgeable about the law.
�The majority spoke and yet the NPP don�t want to accept the verdict. What if the judges� ruling does not favour the majority? Should they accept also it?...what will happen if majority of Ghanaians as well as the lawyers feel there is a clear case of injustice?�
�I have heard people saying that whatever may be the verdict of the Supreme Court case, it should be accepted; I am not so sure that is the proper position to take. Who says the nine Supreme Court judges are the only ones who know the law? If all the nine judges agree that there should be a certain course of action against NPP and for NDC or vice versa, and the viewers as well as the lawyers feel there is a clear case of injustice, what do we do?� he asked.
Contributing to discussions on PeaceFm's flagship programme, "Kokrokoo", Kwesi Pratt stated that though the Supreme Court has the final authority to pronounce rulings when it comes to the interpretation of the law, there are other institutions which have self-imposed or legally imposed responsibilities to defend the law.
�Apart from that, the law must reflect the will of the people however, if it doesn�t then there is something wrong with the law. Let us assume that the Supreme Court has come to some conclusion on this matter, will that be the end?� Kwesi Pratt quizzed.
"Yes, that will be the end," John Boadu, a member of the NPP's communication team strongly asserted.
He pointed out so long as both parties have committed themselves to maintaining the country's democratic credentials and with both parties having agreed to the rules governing how the election petition suit should go, once the Supreme Court pronounces its final ruling, no amount of dissenting opinion can and should be tolerated.
Speaking on the same platform, he cautioned his fellow panelist against threading on slippery grounds.
�The Supreme Court is the final arbiter and so when it rules over an issue, it is final, it cannot be disputed...This is a very dangerous question to ask. We can�t allow such dangerous questions to go unanswered just like that. The Supreme Court is the final arbiter and so when it gives a ruling that is final; no one can do or say anything. With this kind of opinion, if we don�t take care Ghana will not be safe for us�,� he said.
Source: Rebecca Addo-Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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