The Minority in Parliament, led by leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has rejected the court’s order for a re-run of the Kpandai parliamentary election, saying that they are ready to face any contempt charges even if it they will be sent to Nsawam Prison.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the judge misconducted himself in the handling of the case, and the Minority is not afraid to speak against the ruling.
On November 24, the court ordered a fresh election in the constituency within 30 days, setting aside the declaration of Mathew Nyindam and MP for the area.
Speaking on November 26, he criticised the directive, saying,
“The high court issued an order directing a full re-run of the entire Kpandai Parliamentary election, covering all 152 polling stations to be completed within 30 days.”
“As if this judge is not aware of the Supreme Courts decision in the Akufo-Addo and others versus John Dramani Mahama and others in the 2012 presidential petition,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin also alleged that the outcome appeared to be known by the opposing National Democratic Congress (NDC) party before it was delivered.
“The sad part of it is that the NDC candidate and his supporters were aware of the judgement before the day to the extent that on the day of said judgement the region minister led a team of NDC party faithfuls into the courtroom anticipating the expected results.”
He questioned the sequence of events in court and the conduct of the presiding Judge Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange.
“The judge who spent minutes walked out of the courtroom claiming that his judgement will be ready on Friday. Meanwhile in less that 24 hours a court order was being served on Parliament and Hon. Nyindam,” he noted.
The Minority Leader condemned the judicial behaviour and warned of the destruction of peace in the country.
“What kind of kangaroo judicial system are we having now in Ghana? The judiciary must know that their actions and inactions to serve the interest of whoever their pay master is has the tendency of destroying our peaceful republic,” he said.
He stressed that the Minority’s criticism will not be quiet in the issue.
“We will not mince words. They can conspired to call us one by one for a so called contempt of court. We are criticizing their shameful conduct. We’re not afraid. We’re ready to be in Nsawam for their so called contempt. The world will see their disgraceful conduct. We will not sit aloof and allow them to undermine the ver rule of law that they are supposed to protecting,” he added.
“How can a judge who calls himself a judge sit in court and misconduct himself in such a manner and expect the country to be quiet,” he questioned.
