Private Legal Practitioner, Lawyer Maurice Ampaw says the lead counsel for the petitioner, Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata will end up ‘failing’ the petitioner, John Dramani Mahama in his fight to challenge the 2020 presidential election in court.
According to him, even though the Apex Court judges are “treating Mr Tsatsu with some respect” – the learned lawyer has however chosen to “misbehave” in an open court.
“His conduct I must admit is worrying,” Maurice Ampaw bemoaned in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show Ghana Montie.
Adding that, “The way Tsatsu Tsikata talks to the judges is not the best, he must as well reciprocate the respect the judges are giving to him and stop being rude to them in some circumstance.”
Tsatsu Tsikata, on Tuesday 2nd February 2021 accused one of the Supreme Court Judges of harassing his witness, Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte.
Dr Kpessa-Whyte who is the second witness for the petitioner, John Mahama, took his turn in the witness box on Tuesday and after cross-examination by lawyers for the 1st and 2nd respondent, the panel had some questions to ask.
One of the Judges, Justice Apau felt Dr Kpessa-Whyte did not take his work seriously after the latter told the court that the NDC representatives in the strong room left to go and see John Mahama following a directive from the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa.
But Tsatsu who was not so happy with the judge’s utterance accused the judge of harassing his witness.
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
***barred word*** lawyer
I agree with this assertion. For example we can relate this to the story of the pharisee and the publican in the bible. I personally think Tsatsu's posture in court might not help the petitioner. Irrespective of how learned he thinks he may be, he needs to understand that at this moment the decision lies on others to make. It would therefore be prudent for him to be courteous, which in any case will not take anything away from him, than to be bossy
You see, NDC in their petition had not exhibited any pink sheet or forms where the entered figures were controversial. The EC has in custody the original documents of which all the stakeholders have the carbon copies. The NDC, and for this matter the petitioner could have exhibited the copies of the alleged fake figures and required the EC to justerpose the original copies so as to make their case in evidence but they awafully failed to do so. The court is regulated by set down proceedence, rules and you just can't fish in documents in the course of court hearings to make a case. You have to be crystally clear with the basis of your case or petition before you set-foot in the court room for redress. Rightfully so, when indeed, they have set down time lines for the hearing of election petitions. I just coudn't understand how an astute lawyer like Tsikata would stake his reputation on couselorship of such a poorly strategized, and formulated petition. I bet I'm a layman in law and I solemnly rely on my common logic!
you don't know anything. shush!