Election Petition; an impediment to Ghana's success - Ade Coker

Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Ade Coker has blamed Ghana's underdevelopment on the ongoing Presidential Election Petition before the Supreme Court.

He said no investor will take the risk to business in a country where there is so much uncertainty hanging around it.

Ade Coker expressed these sentiments on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen programme Monday.

The court case has entered its 13th day as lead counsel for the NDC, Tsatsu Tsikata continued his cross examination of the star witness of the petitioners, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

But there is a contention about the number of pink sheets tendered in evidence by the petitioners therefore the court has order for the recount.

In spite of this, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) has been lauded by many for going to court to seek redress than resorting to violence.

Many including President John Mahama believe the court case will strengthen Ghana's growing democracy.

However, Ade Coker contended that the NPP's motive for going to court is to satisfy its insatiable quest for power at all cost.

He said the country is suffering a setback due to the Election Petition and thus it must not be seen as a blessing in disguise.

The NDC man intimated that the court case is a great disincentive to foreign businesses ready to invest in the country to solve the growing employment in the country.

"Ghana is at a standstill; this country is bleeding [because] of this court case. We have spent the first quarter of this year in court and it likely we will spend the rest of the year there. So at the end of the year what account will we render to Ghanaians" he quizzed.

The NDC Greater Accra Chairman described the petitioners as "enemies of progress" whom he claims are ready to sacrifice Ghana's progress for partisan interest.

He disclosed that the Election Petition is gravely affecting government's ability to deliver on its Better Ghana Agenda promise to Ghanaians.

Ade Coker called on government not to despair but to work assiduously to move the country forward.

In a rebuttal, Director of Communication of the NPP, Nana Akomea scoffed Ade Coker's describing it as propaganda.

He said the NPP did not err in exercising its constitutional rights and thus cannot be blamed for the inefficiencies of government.

The NPP guru stressed that given the magnitude of evidence available to them; the NPP would have collapsed if they had not gone to court.

Nana Akomea was confidence that at any verdict by the Supreme Court will be a victory for democracy.