Ghana Decides Desk Report.

The Supreme Court of Ghana granted the National Democratic Congress (NDC)  Joinder application seeking to join the election petition filed by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) by a 6 to 3 majority decision.

The nine-member panel, which was presided over by Justice William Atuguba, heard arguments by both sides last week.

Justices Julius Ansah, P. Baffoe Bonnie and Anin Yeboah voted against the NDC Joinder motion. Justices Mrs. Justice Sophia Adinyira, William Atuguba, Ms. Justice Rose Owusu, Mr Justice Jones Dotse, Mr Justice G.S. Gbadegbe and Mrs. Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo all ruled in favour of the NDC.

The lead counsel for the NDC had argued that the party offered its platform to President Mahama as a candidate, and he was therefore an interested party in the case. The NPP had said there was no legal basis for the Motion filed by the NDC.

Supreme Court of Ghana

The NPP’s Presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, his vice Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and party chairman Jake O. Lamptey had filed a case at the Supreme Court challenging the results that declared President John Mahama as winner of the 7 and 8 December polls.

The latest development is expected to open the way for the substantive case filed by NPP’s Nana Akuffo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey to commence fully.