The legal team of the Second Respondent (President Akufo Addo) in the ongoing Election Petition hearing at the Supreme Court has hinted of a possible subpoena to haul ex-President John Mahama (Petitioner) into the witness box to answer questions.
This disclosure comes after the lead Counsel for the Petitioner indicated his intentions to file an application to reopen its case in relation to the witnesses of the 1st and 2nd respondents to testify in the Election Petition case.
“We are applying to reopen our case and on that basis, we will be issuing a subpoena to have the EC chairperson appear as a witness”, Lead Counsel for the Petitioner, Tsatsu Tsikata said on Thursday, February, 11, 2021.
The Supreme Court however said it cannot stop a party from reopening an application.
The court has thus ordered the parties to simultaneously present their closing address before February 17, 2021.
Addressing the media after Thursday’s hearing, a Spokesperson for the Second Respondent’s legal team, and Minister for Information-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah gave a clue that once the EC Chair is compelled to enter the witness box, their side may also haul Mr Mahama into the box.
“Indeed I’ve heard conversations and I don’t know if I have their (legal team) permission to say this, I’ve heard conversations by some that if they elect to subpoena the EC Chair, maybe we should also elect to subpoena the petitioner to be brought into the box. I don’t know if they will agree to it at the end of the day. But it is part of the various conversations, we’ll see how it goes.”
Sitting has been adjourned to February 18, 2021, to hear the written addresses.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com
