The Wenchi High Court has set November 16, 2021, for the commencement of the Techiman South Election Petition.
The court is to subpoena the Electoral Commission (EC) Chair, Jean Mensa, and others to appear before it for cross-examinations in the suit filed by the 2020 Techiman South National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Dr. Christopher Beyere Baasongti.
The suit seeks to quash the declaration of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP), Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah as Techiman South MP, and declare Dr. Christopher Beyere Baasongti as the legitimate winner of the Techiman South parliamentary elections.
Also, to appear before the court for cross-examination is the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the Bono East EC Director, Gabriel Dei, the Returning Officer for the Techiman South 2020 elections, Nana Dwamena Frempah among others.
At the last sitting on Thursday, October 14, 2021, the court fixed Thursday, October 21, 2021, for the Case Management Conference, a judicial process where the litigating parties together with the court agree on the timetable and trial procedures, among other issues.
At the Case Management Conference, it was agreed as follows:
Witnesses:
1. Petitioner will be presenting four witnesses in the box, namely:
– Dr. Christopher Beyere Baasongti, 2020 NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Techiman South
– Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary, NDC
– Hameed Bin Laden, Elections Director l, Techiman South NDC
– Shamsudeen Ali, Secretary, Bono East NDC
2. The 1st Respondent Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, will be presenting only one Witness in the person of Richard Asamoah
3. The 2nd Respondent will also present only one Witness in the person of Sampson Ofori Gyamfi, Techiman Municipal Electoral Officer
Exhibits
1. Petitioner will rely on several documentary Exhibits ranging from A-Y series. These will involve 267 duplicate pink sheets, 247 original pink sheets, Letters of Accreditation etc. The petitioner will also demonstrate evidence by way of video and so on.
2. The 1st Respondent will rely on Form 1C and 1D filed by 2nd Respondent through orders of the court as well as some videos
3. 3rd Respondent intends to rely on 267 duplicate pink sheets, Forms 1C and 1D as well as some videos.
Subpoenas
The Petitioner will also bring into the witness box six(6) additional witnesses, namely:
– Nana Dwamena Frempah (Returning Officer, Techiman South EC)
– Gabriel Dei Yeboah (Director, Bono East EC)
– Alhaji Fuseini Awinaba (Regional Crime Officer, Bono East)
– Dr. Ninnang Tobias (Doctor, Holy Family Hospital)
– Effah Gordon (Dep. Returning Officer, Techiman Municipal EC)
– Jean Mensah (EC Chair)
Meanwhile, the dates for trial for evidence in chief by petitioner and cross-examination by respondents have been scheduled for November 16 and 17, and December 1, 2, and 10, 2021.
However, on November 16, 2021, the court will give the full calendar as regards the trial up to its conclusion.
