John Dramani Mahama, presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised the Supreme Court for what he says is an unfair dispensing of justice in the country.
He says the Supreme Court has been partial in determining whether lacking a representation in Parliament over a certain period is a breach of their rights or not.
Speaking to residents of Akpafu Tuesday, November 05, 2024, he borrowed the words of Prof. Kwaku Azar, describing the disenfranchisement of the people of SALL in the 2020 elections as the cardinal sin of the Fourth Republic.
Residents of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lollobi and Likpe (SALL) were not allowed by the Electoral Commission (EC) to partake in the parliamentary polls in 2020 and has since not had a representation in Parliament.
When the matter was taken to the Supreme Court, it said it does not lie in its jurisdiction to determine that, but that of the High Court.
However, when the Speaker of Parliament declared some four seats in Parliament vacant which reduced the NPP’s majority to become a minority, the Supreme Court, in a few hours after the ruling, stayed the Speaker’s declaration thrashing the vacant seats verdict, saying the people in the said constituencies were being denied their rights of representation.
In his address, John Mahama also spoke about the Assin North situation where the Member of Parliament was prevented from representing his people until a by-election was held.
He said there is none in the country who is an inferior citizen, saying same treatment must be given to everyone.
Speaking on the matter, John Mahama said “we believe that an injustice was done to the people of SALL and it has been called the cardinal sin of the Fourth Republic. And never again must this happen.
“The rights of everybody in Ghana are very important and everybody must be equal before the law. The people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lollobi and Likpe are not inferior citizens of Ghana. The citizens of Assin North are not inferior citizens of Ghana….,” he stated.
