A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Legal Team), Abraham Amaliba, has brushed off a lawsuit brought against the candidature of John Dramani Mahama in the forthcoming general election by editor-in-chief editor-in-chief of the Daily Searchlight Newspaper, Kenneth Kuranchie.
Mr. Amaliba says the constitution does not prevent the former president from contesting in the 2024 elections.
Kenneth Kwabena Agyei Kuranchie has petitioned the Supreme Court to declare that former President John Dramani Mahama is ineligible to run for re-election in 2024.
Among other reliefs, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Searchlight is asking for a declaration that, upon true and proper interpretation of Article 66 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, it is clear that a presidential term must be four years.
A declaration that, according to a true and proper reading of Articles 66 (1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution, a candidate for a second presidential term must be the current president.
A declaration that, according to a true and proper interpretation of Article 62 of the 1992 Constitution, a former President of Ghana is unable to run for President of Ghana.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin have joined the suit.
The veteran journalist requests that the court direct the Speaker of Parliament to invoke and implement Article 68 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.
He also asks the court to stop Mr. Mahama from running for president.
He further asks the court to order Mr. Mahama to fully disclose to Parliament the terms of his participation as a National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer.
But speaking on News Night on Metro TV on Tuesday, June 13, Abraham Amaliba described the lawsuit as legal “gymnastics” and “somersaults”
“Where in the [1992] Constitution that says the former president cannot stand?” he quizzed.
He added, “Nothing. Absolutely, nothing stops the former president from contesting in the 2024 elections”
According to Abraham Amaliba, Mr. Kuranchie’s suit is a diversionary tactics.
He explained that it is a well orchestrated plan to distract Ghanaians from lambasting the government over the state of the country but rather focus on the lawsuit.
“The country is under a tense economic hardships. You have called me and aren’t we talking about that and leaving the economy to suffer?”
“Can you see the diversion there?” the veteran journalist continued “Bad governance is a lot of this administration. The only way they can have people’s mind swerve from the bad governance is to put up such suits which in my view are frivolous in nature,” he told Bridget Otoo.
