NPP’s Request For An In-camera Hearing Was Strange – Nana Ato Dadzie

A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC ) legal team, Nana Ato Dadzi has expressed disappointment and surprise at the NPP legal team’s request for in-camera hearing today.

According to him, the party objected to one member of the panel of justices of the Supreme court sitting on the case where the NDC is seeking to join the respondents in the NPP’s petition challenging the results of the 2012 presidential elections.

“Our information is that it relates basically to an objection that they have to the composition of the 9 members of the supreme court justices as currently constituted… Information came up on radio that they have some objection to Justice William Atuguba.”

According Mr. Dadzi the lawyers of the NPP raised an objection saying “they wanted whatever they had to say to be raised in camera; meaning that we should go into the judge’s chambers for that discussions to go on”

“But our side [NDC] objected to it because the constitution and the laws setting up the parameters within which such petitions should be heard clearly states that the proceedings for the court should be in open,” he added.

“The people of this country are untitled to know everything about this trial. Isn’t it interesting that our friends on the other side had earlier advocated that television should be brought into the court room, strangely enough this time they wanted the matter to be heard in chambers outside the purview of everybody else.”

It is unclear which of the judges the NPP raised objections to but one of the Party’s lawyers Gloria Akuffo has said the request for in-camera hearing was in the interest of the state.

Meanwhile reports say Justice William Atuguba who presided over the hearing today may have been the member of the panel, the NPP is objecting to.

Justice Atuguba is the Uncle of Raymond Atuguba who has been appointed as Executive Secretary to President Mahama.

Justice Atuguba reportedly complained about the state of affairs in the country in court today saying “this country is solid but is breaking down because principles are being chopped down to pedestrian level.”