A year ago today, many Ghanaians waited with bated breath for the verdict of a nine-member Supreme Court panel on an historic election petition challenging the outcome of the 2012 presidential election.
Gun-toting policemen patrolled the streets, shops closed, vehicles parked, journalists jostled for space and religious leaders and political party adherents prayed; the whole nation was at attention.
The nine-member panel, led by Justice William Anaam Atuguba behind the secure walls of the Supreme Court were finalizing and reconciling their respective positions on the contentious issues brought before them by the NPP’s election 2012 presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and NPP Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.
The wait was long, the tension was intense, and the anxiety was numbing but finally the verdict came.
The Supreme Court in a terse verdict, dismissed the petition by a 5 – 4 decision .
The road to the verdict was full of drama and punctuated by accusations and counter accusations , convictions for contempt, warnings by the judges, funny comments and great legal battle.
But the verdict came and it was short and left litigants confused after Justice Atuguba delivered it.
Nana Akufo-Addo however managed to deliver a brave concession speech accepting the verdict .
A year on, one of the petitioners, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia granting Joy FM an exclusvice interview, said he never had a good sleep throughout the eight months of the case.
He was the star witness and made a name for himself.
He is convinced that the case was good for Ghana’s democracy even though the petitioners lost.
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