Nana Konadu Asks: �Are Verification Machines Useless? Lawyers Should Educate Us�

Leader and founder of the National Democratic Party (NDP), and former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings is seeking clarification from legal practitioners in Ghana on what exactly the use of the biometric verification machines that were procured for the 2012 general election is. Mrs Rawlings is also at a loss about the meaning of last Thursday�s ruling by the Supreme Court on the election petition and is equally urging lawyers to further clarify the verdict to Ghanaians. The former first lady made these comments Tuesday morning when she called on the 2012 presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, to congratulate him for his decision to go to court and accepting the ruling of the court. The reasons for the judgement are, however, yet to be made public but Nana Konadu believes there are still questions begging for answers as far as the recent ruling on the election petition was concerned. Nine justices, last Thursday, dismissed the petition which challenged the legitimacy of President John Mahama as the validly elected president in the 2012 polls. "The only thing I'd like to put before you as a lawyer and as a statesman is to explain things to Ghanaians because people are at a loss. Are they now saying that after spending lots of monies on equipment for verification, it doesn't matter anymore? We can now vote without verification." "We will need those of you who are lawyers to explain things to us," she stated. On his part, Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the former first lady and her delegation for their warm gesture and words of encouragement. He commended her on the role she has played over the years in helping grow Ghana�s democracy. He said Ghana�s democratic history would not be complete without the Rawlingses. Nana Akufo-Addo is fortified by the fact that leading figures in our country recognized the merit in the actions taken by him and the NPP. On her request to help explain the verdict, Nana Akufo-Addo said he considers it a duty to explain the decision of the court to the Ghanaian people, as it will help improve Ghana�s electoral system. He said �people who are interested in Ghana�s welfare must meet more often to see what we can all do to help the Ghana project, and that is why I commend you highly for calling on me today.� Mrs Rawlings was accompanied by her party�s General Secretary, H. F. Amoako, Director of Operations, Mr Gaisie, and Deputy Communications Director, Ernest Owusu-Bempah.