COURT AWARDS COST AGAINST JOE DANQUAH – FOR FAILING TO FILE HIS WITNESS STATEMENT.

Sunyani High Court II on Thursday, May 20, 2021, awarded a cost of One Thousand Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHS 1,500.00) against the former C.E.O for the Middle Belt Development Authority and 2020 New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Banda Constituency, Mr. Joe Danquah, for failing to file his Witness Statement(s) within time as ordered by the Court on April 23, 2021, in his Parliamentary Election Petition filed against the 2020 National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate, Banda MP and First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim and the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

Joe Danquah on January 11, 2021, repeated his 2016 absurd Election Petition antics by filing another petition for the 2020 Parliamentary Election at the Sunyani High Court challenging the Electoral Commission’s Parliamentary Result that declared Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim is the winner of the 2020 Parliamentary polls held in the Banda Constituency.

In the last Court sitting on April 23, 2021, the presiding Judge ordered the Petitioner, Joe Danquah, and the Respondents to file their Witness Statements and serve on the other Parties within fourteen (14) clear days that is by May 7, 2021. The First Respondent, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, complied and filed his Witness Statements within time, while the Petitioner, Joe Danquah who actually should be interested in the speedy trial of the case if indeed he is genuine ironically missed the deadlines as set by the court by 10 clear days and subsequently filed his Witness’ Statements on May 17, 2021.

Counsel for Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Alexander Amponsah ESQ. at today’s sitting which was slated for Case Management, therefore, prayed that a cost of Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 5,000.00) be awarded against the Petitioner, Joe Danquah, and accused him of disrespecting and abusing the Court’s Order. Petitioner’s counsel however pleaded for leniency and the Judge finally ruled and ordered GHS 1,500.00 cost against his client Joe Danquah and in his conclusion warned that such conduct would not be entertained by the court going forward.

The Electoral Commission’s Counsel submitted a letter to the Court seeking for an adjournment to be present in Court for the case management.

The hearing for the petition was adjourned to June 4, 2021, for case management.

An instrumental question that begs for an answer is why/how the petitioner who must be interested in the speedy trial that could get him into parliament if indeed he believes in the genuineness of his case should be failing by not just a day or two but 10 clear days in honouring the deadlines as set by the court.

One thing is certain, the pretence and face-saving antics of Joe Danquah anytime he loses elections can not be lost on discerning minds.