On August 29,2013, The supreme court of Ghana rejected a challenge of the 2012 polls by Akuffo-Addo

Today’s in History, Exactly 10 years ago On August 29 ,2013

The supreme court of Ghana ruled 5-4 decision in favour of John Dramani Mahama was validity elected by the citizens of Ghana without any bias or cheating as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Nana Akuffo-Addo Claim.

The NPP led by Nana Akuffo-Addo then Presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party claimed that a numerous of corrupt practices occurred during and after the 2012 polls which include Over-voting,Voting without biometric verification,Absence of signatures,Duplicate serial numbers etc.

They petitioned the supreme court to investigate the 2012 General election.

The Supreme court by a 5-4 majority decision justified that President Mahama was validly elected.

There were four  consistent judges who voted against and for the annulment of more than two million votes due to what the petitioners described as gross and widespread irregularities recorded during the election.

Justices William Atuguba, Mrs Justice Sophia Adinyira, Mr Justice N. S. Gbadegbe and Mrs Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo in an “overall” decision dismissed the petitioners claims for the annulment of a total of 3,931,339 votes due to electoral irregularities in the December 7 and 8, 2012 presidential election.

The dissenting justices who held the view there were issues to be settled with allegations of over voting, absence of presiding officers’ signature and voting without biometric verification were Mr Justice Julius Ansah, Ms Justice Rose Constance Owusu and Mr Justice Anin Yeboah.

When the results were declared, the NPP candidate said

“I have called President John Dramani Mahama and I have now congratulated him on being elected as the fourth President of the Fourth Republic of our country. The Supreme Court of our nation has spoken and the result of the December 2012 presidential election has been confirmed as having been won by the candidate of the NDC, President Mahama.”

The government deployed 30,000 police around the country before the ruling, bracing for possible unrest. But there were no reports of rioting or unrest in the hours after the court’s decision.