Sanctions for failed election petitions: NPP disagrees with Afari-Gyan’s proposal
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) hs disagreed with the suggestion that political parties failing in election petitions must be sanctioned.
On Monday, former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan suggested that political parties or politicians who lose election petitions be punished severely.
Dr Afari-Gyan, in an address at the Constitutional Day Public Lecture organised by the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School and the One Ghana Movement, indicated that such sanctions would deter people from rushing to court with election petitions.
“It appears that some candidates rush to court with election petitions alleging manipulation of results, primarily to placate their financiers and supporters so that they will be given another chance to be a candidate in the next elections,” he said.
Speaking to Citi News, the Director of Elections and Research for the NPP, Evans Nimako said the proposal by Dr Gyan lacked merit.
“The Judiciary has the mandate, the power to award cost in whatever form after adjudication. So I am having difficulty appreciating Dr Afari Gyan’s proposal.
“Are we saying that this is in a way to stop people from pursuing justice? And the fact that you go to court does not mean you will be successful,” he said.
source: citinews
