Ghana Awaits Judgement in Legal Battle for Presidency

The Ghanaian Supreme Court will decide today August 29, 2013 whether Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama was legitimately elected following presidential polls held on 7 and 8 December, 2012. The petition is considered the biggest legal battle in Ghana's history.

President Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won the election with 50.70 percent of the votes, beating his main challenger Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who polled 47.7 percent of the votes.

The opposition NPP challenged
the results arguing that there were gross and widespread irregularities at more than 10,000 polling stations.

NPP's projected the results showing Nana Ado winning. Photo source: Nana Ado (NPP's presidential candidate) Facebook page.

The hearing of the petition began on 16 April, 2013. The petitioners are NPP's presidential candidate Nana Akuffo Addo, his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and NPP national chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey. The respondents are President John Mahama, the Electoral Commission and the ruling National Democratic Congress.

Ghanaians and friends of Ghana have been tweeting messages of peace as the whole country anxiously await for the verdict. In an attempt to create atmosphere of peace ahead of the verdict, Ghana's political parties played a football match with former national football team players on 26 August, 2013, to pledge peace and unity.

Tweeting about peace, Viasat 1 Ghana (@Viasat1Ghana) wrote:

The Obroni (@I_LoveAzonto) advised:

Esau Yakub (@MisterYakube) reminded Ghanaians about Martin Luther King's message:

DKS (@DoWuSem) prayed:

Akua Blakofe (@MsBlakofe) pleaded with fellow Ghanaians:

As expected, security personnel are on high alert as Ghana Elections (@ghanaelections) reported:

Some businesses will not sell alcohol today, Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm) reported:

Police sirens have been blazing since morning, tweeted web developer A Hesse (@ArmahH):

The streets were empty early morning today in Accra, the capital city:

It looks like a holiday, noted Sylvester Addo (@silverscholar)

According to broadcast journalist Benjamin Tetteh (@benjieluv) in Accra, shops are closed and even markets are empty:

Nnenna (@nnenna) asked:

winvoyah wñ (@nderba_nderba) stated why he thinks the judgement is important:

Nnenna (@nnenna), an activist and trainer, asked:

Ghanaian writer and blogger Jemila Abdulai (@jabdulai) announced:

Kofi Yeboah (@kofiemeritus), Ghanaian blogger and Global Voices author, warned foreign media:

Martin Asiedu-Dartey (@martincitifm) said that Ghanaians have been asked to celebrate in moderation:

Finally, Nnenna (@nnenna) had a dream:

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