Declaration by the Electoral Commission of Ghana after the elections saw the candidate for National Democratic Congress(NDC); John Dramani Mahama beating the one for New Patriotic Party(NPP); Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo in the Presidential race. Per the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the winner of the election is to be sworn in as the President of the Republic of Ghana regardless of any questions that might have arisen from the polls.
However, the Constitution creates room for anyone seems not satisfied with the results to challenge the President. According to Article 64(1): “ The validity of the election of the President may be challenged only by a citizen of Ghana who may present a petition for the purpose to the Supreme Court within twenty-one days after the declaration of the result of the election in respect of which the petition is presented”.
The “law-abiding” members NPP have done just as the law requires of them awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court of Ghana but many sympathizers of the party would wish the inauguration of the President should not happen in the first place.
His inauguration is quite unprecedented in the history of Ghana as the only President to take the Presidential Oath twice within six months. This is simply due to the demise of Ghana’s former President; Prof. John Evans Atta Mills in July 2012 which led President Mahama who was then the Vice President taking over the mantle of leadership.
He is also the fourth President and the fourth John under the Fourth Republic after Flt.Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, Mr. John Agyekum Kufour and the late Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.
With just a few hours to the inauguration ceremony, one question would continue to linger on the mind of the President, thus, what will be the outcome of the case in court challenging the December polls?...
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