General News of Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Source: citifmonline
Lawyer Sam Okudjeto has described the Chief Justices’ decision to allow the proceedings of the election petition to be broadcast live on television and radio, as exemplary.
“It is an exemplary decision by the Chief Justice and will say kudos to her,” he noted on in an interview with Citi News.
According to him, with the legal process always being shrouded in secrecy, the Chief justices’ decision will allow ordinary Ghanaians access to the court system in a revolutionary way.
“I think this a fantastic concept and it is something that we should just emulate so that any time we have important national issues, this should be the way we should go.
I think it is very important that we should just live in an open society; I think the Chief Justice has taken a bold step.”
Mr Okudjeto further advocated that “the legal system should have its own cameras, so that things can be broadcast live.”
The Supreme Court adjourned the ongoing election petition case to Wednesday, April 17 to allow the Electoral Commission file its affidavit for the petitioners to be served.
The Petitioners earlier objected to the hearing of the case to begin on Monday until the Electoral Commission had filed its affidavit.
The Counsel for the EC, Lawyer Quarshie Idun insisted that there was burden of proof on petitioners so the case should be opened for hearing to begin.
The hearing of the substantive Election Petition case was carried live on both television and radio from the Supreme Court.