<<Print>>

Lawyer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Tsatsu Tsikata has alleged that seven additional boxes of pink sheet exhibits have been added to the number to be counted and audited in the ongoing election petition case. But the petitioners have described the allegation as a sinister agenda to deprive them the opportunity to put forward their case and attempt to derail a process they have all agreed upon. Making the allegation at the hearing of the election petition case Tuesday morning, Mr Tsikata said at the close of proceedings Monday the respondents became aware of a very significant development with regards to the counting of the pink sheets by the accounting firm, KPMG. He said it emerged that a number of boxes of exhibits of the pink sheets have been added to the boxes of exhibits they were aware had been filed at the registry. He said they detected that as many as seven boxes had been added. �It is serious�, he said. The additions, he said were in respect of the P-series, and that all three respondents have the same number of 24 boxes not 31 as provided for the start of the referee. He said as of last Thursday when preparations were done, 24 boxes were confirmed by their representatives and alleged that the new development was �a matter of criminality�. But said they would not be distracted by criminality. Mr Tsikata pleaded with the court to resort to control mechanisms to include the copies of exhibits distributed to �at least two other Lordships�. He said as things were at the moment it would not be possible to proceed with the count as it may not be �true and faithful� since the copies at the registry has been compromised. Counsel for President John Mahama, Mr Tony Lithur and counsel for the Electoral Commission both supported the recommendations by Mr Tsikata. But the petitioners counsel Philip Addison said the latest move by the respondents was obvious that somebody has a sinister agenda to deprive them the opportunity to put forward their case hence the attempt to derail a process they have all agreed upon. He said the counting started well and that the EC was expecting �shortages but found overages� and then started �cooking up stories�. �We were not aware of the taking of an inventory of the number of boxes as they claim�, he said. He argued that Mr Tsikata had confidence in the registrar and questioned what had changed. He said the respondents kept the number they received a "state secret" but they know the number of boxes in the registry. "It is suprising", he said. He said the action Mr Tsikata wanted was not in the order given by the court accused the respondents of playing strange tactics. He catalogued a number of incidents and proceeded to describe them as behaving like children who have been pampered, and when they get a goal against them they say they won't play again. Addison said they were opposed to the application adding that they have been informed that the counting had reached paragraph 44 and 52 and that but for the distraction the counting would have finished today. Mr Addison said the allegation was based on a suspicion and nothing more. The court has taken a short break for the judges to deliberate and rule on the matter. Mr Tsatsu Tsikata is to continue with the cross-examination of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Day 20 of the hearing of the election petition. Mr Tsikata's cross examination has entered the 13th day today - Tuesday. The petitioners are contesting the declaration of President John Dramani Mahama as the winner of the December 2012 presidential polls.