Supreme Court grants NDC's joinder application

The Supreme Court has granted the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) application to be joined to the Presidential election petition filed by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The NDC presented its case before the Supreme Court last Wednesday, with its lead counsel Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata insisting that the party's joinder application is accepted since President John Dramani Mahama acted on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress to become the fourth President under the fourth Republic.

He argued that the party shares a common interest in the election petition filed against its 2012 Presidential candidate, John Mahama, and therefore it would only be fair if they join the petition as a respondent.

Lawyers of the petitioners; NPP Presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, his Vice Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and National Chairman of the party, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, objected to the joinder application.

The petitioners alleged that the 2012 Presidential elections were rigged and therefore accused the respondents - Electoral Commission and President John Mahama - of electoral fraud.

The nine-member panel last week head arguments from the lawyers of both the NPP and NDC.

The court presided by Justice William Atuguba adjourned the case to today and by a six to three majority decision, the ruling party's joinder application has been granted.

This ruling gives way for the substantive election fraud case to be heard.

From: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw