The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Kwaku Baako Jnr has expressed a strong support for the televising of the election case before the Supreme Court.
Though the court has indicated that the case between the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) leaders; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, and President John Dramani Mahama together with the Electoral Commission, may not be broadcast in the full glare of the general public, Kweku Baako reacting on Peace FM’s morning show “Kokrokoo” on Wednesday, expressed disappointment in the critics who opposed the move to televise it describing their attitude as a mark of hypocrisy.
Kwaku Baako who could not fathom the rationale behind the rejection wondered if telecasting the case would disrupt proceedings in the law court because to him, the approach would help dissect the facts and remove any cloud of darkness hanging on the case.
“The televised coverage, what would it have done to adversely or negatively affect proceedings and the outcome of the proceedings? I don’t understand it. The Supreme Court Judges voted to remain conservative. That’s what they did…But the televised coverage that they are against, I said yes; it was a vote for conservatism but it doesn’t make sense to me,” he expressed his doubt.
He was of the view that should the case pending in the highest court of the land be allowed to be shown live on national screens, it would eliminate all doubts and mischief associated with the petition filed by the NPP contesting the legitimacy of President Mahama.
He explained that “it would have brought more transparency. It would undermine ignorance. It would have undermined mischief; anybody who want to play mischief. And at the end of the day, we will all watch it vividly.”
“It throws light on issues. It takes away darkness. It helps to undermine ignorance and mischief,” he added.
He therefore dared the opposers to rationalize their argument saying; “somebody should come and tell me the kind of mischief that it will cause. Maybe, just maybe the judges want to protect themselves in the sense that first of all, they are being routined in terms of conservative approach. [2] Maybe, they don’t want their faces to show too much to every tom, dick and harry in the society…If it’s that level of their personal security, then again it’s a matter of the pursuit of self-interest.”
He also described the Supreme Court’s earlier decision that the two parties should sort out the inconsistencies in the facts they presented before the court as unrealistic, stressing that “the time that the Supreme Court said there’s two sides if I may be permitted to say so; that is the petitioners as opposed to the respondents. That they should go and sort out the issues, I thought that was unrealistic and indeed the outcome was predictable. So, for me that was avoidable.”
The court has fixed April 16, 2013 to commence hearing of the substantive matter regarding the election petition filed by the three NPP leaders challenging the validity of the votes cast to declare President John Mahama victor in the 2012 Presidential elections.