Lawyer Gloria Akuffo, one of the Counsels for three individuals challenging the validity of the 2012 general elections in the Supreme Court has expressed delight at the current pace with which the on-going petition is being heard.
“When we began, the pink sheets were being examined one after the other using the same questions which got the same response from the witness. When the Counsel for the first respondent, Tony Lithur was questioned on his style of cross examination which was virtually grinding the whole process to a halt, he stated that the element of surprise would be eliminated if he had to present the pink sheets in bulk for questioning. But he later revised his style by presenting the pink sheets in bulk to which we also responded quickly,” she said.
According to her, it is very good the pace has picked up and was very hopeful it would be maintained or even stepped up throughout the trial.
“From the way things are going now, if it continues like this it would be very good for all of us,” the astute Lawyer stated happily.
She made this observation on Asempa Fm, in view of the fact that the Supreme Court, the Lawyers of the Petitioners and a cross section of the general public have been appalled by what seemed to many as a deliberate attempt to prolong the trial by attempting to examine the second Petitioner, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on every pink sheet which has tended in evidence to the court.
This made many who were initially glued to their television sets monitoring the live transmission of proceedings lose interest due to the boring and time consuming nature the whole cross examination process took.
The Judges, led by Justices William Atuguba, however had to issue a statement to the Counsel for the first respondent, and to all lawyers to revise their style of cross examination which seems to have been heeded to for now.
Meanwhile, Gloria Akuffo is happy with the latest development with respect to the speed at which the case is being heard because according to her, there is a huge public interest behind the case and a quick hearing would bring about an early closure to the case.