Election Petition: Mahama Files Motion To Reopen His Case

Former President John Mahama has filed a motion to reopen his case in order to be able to subpoena the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensa.

Former President John Mahama has submitted a request to reopen his case in order to be able to subpoena Madam Jean Mensa in the ongoing election petition hearing.

The motion was filed Thursday, February 11 after the court ruled that the EC could not be compelled to take the witness box.

“My Lords, we know that we can issue a subpoena without leave but since we have closed our case on the assumption that she will be (in the witness box)….we intend to file a formal motion,” lead Council for the petitioner Tsatsu Tsikata told the court.

Court ruling on cross-examination 

The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court has ruled that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa is free not to testify in the ongoing election petition.

The two respondents on Tuesday made the application to the apex court arguing among other reasons that the petitioner had not sufficiently discharged on his obligation to prove the issues raised for determination.

The ruling follows three hours of legal arguments on Tuesday between lawyers for the respondents, Justin Amenuvor and Akoto Ampaw, and the petitioner’s lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata.

The unanimous ruling of the apex court panel of seven chaired by Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah was that the rules of the Court do not require it to compel the respondent’s witnesses to give evidence when they have waived that rights

“We are minded to state that our jurisdiction invoked in this election petition is a limited jurisdiction clearly circumscribed by law. We do not intend to extend our mandate beyond what the law requires of us in such petitions brought under Article 64 (1) challenging the validity of the election of a president.

“Simply put, we are not convinced, and we will not yield to the invitation being extended to us by counsel for the petitioner to order the respondent to enter the witness box to be cross-examined.

“Accordingly, we hereby overrule the objection raised by the counsel for the petitioner against the decision of the respondents declining to adduce evidence in this petition,” he added.

But reacting to this, Lawyer Tsikata who is the lead counsel for Mr. Mahama said he will file a motion to formally reopen the case so he can subpoena the EC Chair.

Read the motion filed below.

[doc id=4035]

The panel which also includes Justice Yaw Appau, Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, Justice Prof Nii Ashie Kotey, Justice Nene Amegartcher. Justice Mariama Owusu and Justice Gertrude Torkornoo rule that, they are not convinced with the invitation from the Petitioner to compel the respondents’ witness in the petition to mount the box.