Ghana EC Chairman mounts witness box

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) on Thursday mounted the witness box at the Supreme Court as ‘star witness’ for the second respondent in the on-going Presidential Election Petition case.

Dr Afari-Gyan who was the Returning Officer in the polls was being led in evidence by the Counsel of the second respondent, Mr James Quarshie-Idun who introduced the EC Chairman.

As the court clerk approached the witness to assist him swear the oath, Mr Philip Addison, Counsel for the petitioners, stood up and questioned why it was Dr Afari-Gyan who would give evidence for the EC instead of Mr Amadu Sule, a Deputy Chairman of the EC.

He stressed that it was Mr Amadu Sule who swore to the affidavits, so he did not understand why Dr Afari-Gyan who had not sworn to any affidavits was coming to give evidence.

But  Mr Quarshie-Idun explained that the second respondent was the Electoral Commission.

He stated that it was not only Mr Amadu Sule who swore to the affidavit but also Mr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a former Deputy Chairman.

The presiding judge, Justice William Atuguba after conferring with his colleagues on the bench ruled that Dr Afari-Gyan was representing the EC as a party to the case and the Returning Officer of the 2012 elections.

Dr Afari-Gyan was, therefore, qualified to give oral evidence for the EC, the Presiding Judge said.

Source: GNA