NDC's complaint about pink sheet boxes is a hoax – John Boadu

John Boadu

A Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has condemned what he described as unnecessary tension being created by counsel for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the ongoing Presidential Election Petition before the Supreme Court.

He said allegation by Tsatsu Tsikata that pink sheet boxes in the custody of the court registry have been tampered with is a "figment of his [Tsatsu's] imagination".

Counsel for the respondents prior to the audit of the pink sheets by international accounting firm KPMG Monday, alleged that the exhibits have been tampered with.

Tsikata raised the issue in court on Tuesday arguing that seven boxes have been mysteriously added to the "original” number of 24 boxes increasing it to 31.

But counsel for the petitioners, Philip Addison challenged Mr. Tsikata's claims adding that it was a "sinister agenda" to deprive the petitioner from putting forward their case.

The presiding judge, Justice William Atuguba directed the respondents to lodge a complaint with the referee, KPMG to incorporate it in their final report to the court.

Speaking on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday, John Boadu said the claim by Mr. Tsikata is a palpable false.

"The allegation by Tsatsu is big lie; where did the suppose inventory take place because our two representative were never involved in any counting," Boadu exclaimed.

He opined that the respondents are shamefully raising red flags about the credibility of court registry and KPMG because they are "bad losers".

John Boadu contended that the motive behind the "false alarm" was to alert their expectant foot soldiers that they are being cheated in the entire process.

"Do you know what this thing would have cost this country? But for the live telecast, you would have seen how NDC foot soldiers would have besieged the court premises just because of this hoax”.

The NPP Deputy Director of Communications noted that the allegations being peddled around by the respondents lacks logic hence must be treated with the contempt it deserves.

He said the unfortunate action by Tsatsu Tsikata has tarnished the hard earned reputation of KPMG which is doing the auditing for free.

The NPP man urged the counsel for the respondents not to act on hearsay but rather do due diligence before taking action.

John Boadu called on the court to take serious notice of the issue "because repercussion of this issue could be deadly".

On the contrary, a member of the NDC legal team, Victor Kojogah Adawudu, maintained that the respondents have a legitimate concern.

He said it is important to ensure all parties are on a level playing field before the counting so that the outcome will be acceptable to all.

Lawyer Adawudu added that all that the respondents are seeking to do is to ensure justice is served after the Election Petition and not to compromise the peace and tranquility of Ghana.