Former flagbearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Nasigrie Mahama yesterday curtailed his political hibernation when he passed a commentary on the ongoing election petition hearing at the Supreme Court.
While addressing a press conference on political developments in the country, he charged the National Peace Council and faith-based organizations to start psyching Ghanaians towards an eventual judgment of the Supreme Court regarding the election petition hearing.
He said the time for organizations to preach peace and togetherness was now and not when the decision of the Supreme Court had been made known. “All those who will be called to make peace should do that while the sun shines,” he said.
He said on several occasions, both the President, John Dramani Mahama, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had pledged to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court. However, it is the reaction of grassroots members of both parties that could jeopardize the stability of this nation.
“Since we do not know and no one knows what decision the panel of nine judges will make, it is appropriate and timely now to address both sides,” he said.
Mr. Mahama said the rank and file of both parties should know that there is the possibility of review of the decision of the Supreme Court, stressing that no one should do anything untoward when the judgment is given.
“Just as we accepted the results of the run offs in 2000 and 2008, I now call on my fellow citizens to accept the verdict of our learned judges,” he said.
He also called on the media and hosts of political talk shows to avoid offering their platforms to non-legal people to interpret objections and rulings in ways that are completely incorrect but may be rational and heighten tension in the country.
Mr. Mahama observed that the task given to the judges is not just to give judgment in favour of one party or the other but to tell citizens what a nation at the crossroads should do in accordance with laws that governed it.
He said the citizenry should pay heed to the advice of traditional and spiritual leaders such as His Royal Highness Otumfuo Osei Tutu and his Eminence Archbishop Palmer Buckle.
“Fellow Ghanaians let us appreciate the peace of God, which has stayed on this nation since independence and be prepared to sacrifice our talent, money, time and energy to make Ghana an African Paradise,” he noted.
