Be Moderate In Celebrating Election Petition Victory � Anglican Priest

The Parish Priest of the Saint James Anglican Church, Agona Swedru, has advised the two major political parties contesting the Presidency of John Dramani Mahama at the Supreme Court to be moderate in celebrating victory after the final court verdict. According to him, though no one could bar supporters of the party that would win the case from jubilating, after the nine justices of the supreme had pronounced judgement, it should be done in a manner that would not provoke the supporters of the losing party in order not to plunge the nation into chaos. He said after the December 7 and 8 elections, there were instances where some NDC supporters who were jubilating in some parts of the country were allegedly attacked by some supporters of other political parties which should not be allowed to happen again in order not to trigger conflict in the country. He stated that whiles the country awaits the verdict of the Supreme Court, party supporters of both the NDC and NPP should be educated by leaders of both parties to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court and let peace prevail. He likened the ongoing election petition trial filed by the New Patriotic Party led by its 2012 Flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Party Chairman, Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey to a football match with the judges as referees who would determine the outcome of the case. Venerable Benjamin Djan told the Daily Graphic in an interview on Monday that the public who viewed the election petition live on television may have their own judgement but the Supreme Court judges would rather apply the law which might not be in favour of the general public but must be accepted by all. He noted that according to the 1992 Constitution, if a party was dissatisfied with the outcome of an election results, the party could seek for redress by resorting to the Supreme Court adding that what the NPP did was commendable. He added that the advantage of resorting to the court for redress had prevented violence that could have thrown the entire country into disarray. He stressed that Ghanaians should pray and jealously guard the peace currently enjoyed in the country.