Calls for peace vital — Ayisi Boateng
A founder member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, Mr George Ayisi Boateng, has lauded the clarion calls for peace to prevail after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the election petition, but has cautioned that there cannot be peace if justice was not deemed
He said it was important that all political parties were being urged to adopt peaceful postures to ensure national cohesion, particularly after the Supreme Court’s verdict later this month, but stressed that there ought to be emphasis on the need for justice as well.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Ayisi Boateng said Ghanaians were expecting was to see that justice had been done.
He said with all parties in the election petition having given their evidence in an open court which was also televised live, there shouldn’t be any cause for trouble after the verdict, since nothing can be swept under the carpet.
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“Those singing ‘let there be peace’ should also take into account, fairness and equity. The same proceedings should reflect in their opinions,” he added.
The NPP, led by its flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo; Vice-presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Chairman of the party, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, petitioned the Supreme Court after the Electoral Commission (EC) declared President John Mahama winner of the December 7-8, 2012 general election.
The case has been pending since late December and the court is expected to deliver its verdict before the end of August, 2013. While waiting for that, there have been numerous calls by different organisations for peace and the need to accept the verdict of the court.
But according to Mr Ayisi Boateng, there is no need to “drum peace without talking about justice since the two move together”.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians, irrespective of their political or religious affiliation, to pray for the nine Supreme Court judges to deliver a good verdict that would be acceptable to all.
He also said it was only through such a process that the peace that people have been calling for could be achieved.
By Enoch Darfah Frimpong/Daily Graphic/Ghana