We were instructed by EC to leave the strongroom, but I didn’t personally receive the instructions— Kpessa-Whyte tells court
We were instructed by EC to leave the strongroom, but I didn’t personally receive the instructions— Kpessa-Whyte tells court
The second witness for the petitioner, Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte has told the Supreme Court that he did not personally speak to the Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa during the national collation of the 2020 Presidential results.
He said while working with another colleague, Rojo Mettle-Nunoo at the EC strongroom on December 9, Jean Mensa instructed them to go and seek a conference with the then flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama on some pending issues related to elections grievances they had about the process.
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However, he stated that the returning officer for the presidential election did not speak to him personally but insisted he and his colleague were instructed to leave the strongroom.
The NDC representatives at the strongroom have alleged that they were instructed by EC Chair to go and see Mr Mahama after which she announced the results on their blind side.
Explaining his case in court, the Public Policy lecturer at the University of Ghana said although they were not in the strongroom to take instructions from the EC Chair they took the instruction the EC Chair gave them and acted on it.
He explained that Jean Mensa told them to go and consult Mr Mahama on the specific irregularities they had brought to her attention regarding the results from some regions.
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“And she did also indicate that the reason she was asking us to do so is for all the stakeholders including the NPP, Peace Council and others could be invited to ensure that we had a credible result before the announcement of the winner is made,” he said.
According to him, the Form 13, they were given did not have any space for them to indicate should they have any disagreement with the figures.
The form is used to register regional results obtained by all candidates contesting the presidential election.
One of the justices asked whether that is not a dereliction of duty on their part, but Dr Kpessa-Whyte said they trusted the EC Chair and held what she told them in good faith.
“That is not true because we were working in furtherance of making sure that the results to be declared by the First Respondent reflects and represent the will of the people and if she asking us to consult with the petitioner is part of how we could get there, we were ready to do that,” he said.
Source: www.spotonnews.net
