Mahama’s petition makes evident that Akufo-Addo won 2020 elections – President’s lawyers
Lawyers for the second respondent in the ongoing election petition are urging the Supreme Court to dismiss the case filed by the 2020 NDC presidential candidate.
President Akufo-Addo’s lawyers say John Mahama’s case actually proves that Nana Akufo-Addo met the constitutional requirement of obtaining more than 50% of the valid votes cast.
This submission is contained in the written closing address submitted to the Supreme Court.
Former President Mahama’s lawyers filed their closing address on Tuesday insisting they have successfully proven that no candidate won the December 7 polls.
President Akufo-Addo’s lawyers however say the testimonies by Mr. Mahama’s witnesses demonstrate clearly that the President won the polls.
Reference is made to the cross-examination of NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia by lead counsel for the President, Akoto Ampaw.
“Akoto Ampaw – I am saying that from the declaration in the video clip that we just saw, which really is the basis of all your case, and you should know what is in it, the total number of valid votes that 2nd respondent obtained is
6,730,413
Asiedu Nketia – That is correct my Lords.
Akoto Ampaw – The total number of valid votes that the petitioner obtained from the declaration announcement, your Exhibit ‘A’, is 6,214,889?
Asiedu Nketia – That is so my Lords.
Akoto Ampaw – And I am also putting it to you that if you do a sum of all these valid votes…
Can you tell the court what is 6,730,413 as a percentage of
13,121,111?
Asiedu Nketia – My Lords, it is 51.29453 ad infinitum. So it can be rounded up to 51.295%
Akoto Ampaw – So 51.295%, not so?
Asiedu Nketia – Yes.
Akoto Ampaw – What about the petitioner, his total valid votes are 6,214,889. What is this sum as a percentage of 13,121,111?
Asiedu Nketia – It is 47.365569 ad infinitum. So it can be rounded up to 47.366.
Akoto Ampaw – So you admit that from the Chairperson of 1st Respondent’s
declaration on 9th December, 2nd respondent crossed the more than
50% threshold?
Asiedu Nketia – From the declaration as announced.…
Akoto Ampaw – From the figures that we just calculated, these figures which were announced, if you do them as a percentage of the actual total valid votes, these are the percentages you get for the petitioner and the
2nd Respondent. That is what I am putting to you?
Asiedu Nketia – Well, if the figures are correct, yes.”
The President’s legal team says this admission shows the petitioner “has made much ado about nothing of the fact that in announcing the total valid votes cast, the Chairperson of the EC stated a wrong figure of 13.4 million. “.
The lawyers say “This petition is an industry in futility. It has been designed, built, and furnished with lazy labour of facts and evidence that seek to attack the electoral choices of the people of Ghana.”
