The third witness for the Petitioner of the 2020 election dispute, Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo had recounted how he felt betrayed by the Chairperson for the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Adukwei Mensa, when he and his colleague; Dr. Kpessa-Whyte trusted her word to confer with John Mahama regarding their grievances about the electoral process. According to the third witness, his working experience with the EC Chairperson as a consultant to the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) whence she headed, made him trust her words and person. To his unsuspecting self and that of his colleague, Mr. Mettle-Nunoo cried they were ‘tricked’ to move out of the strongroom of the EC’s Headquarters on the night of declaration.
He disclosed that the two had wished to seek redress on issues pertaining to how results were generated and collated at the strongroom, only to be told by the EC Chairperson matters had been addressed between the Peace Council and the various political party leadership, and that it would be right they confer with John Mahama.
“There was nothing in the discussions which could have given me any reason for doubting the words of the Chairperson of the EC. Indeed, having worked with her previously when I was a consultant to the IEA, I had no reason not to trust her.
“I took her at her word and I must say I was really shocked to realize how she had proceeded to make a declaration of results at a time when she knew that my colleague and I left the premises at her instance,” he wrote in his witness statement.
Mr. Mettle-Nunoo indicated the assurance given by the EC Chairperson upon receipt of her advice, was that a dispatch riser would be deployed to facilitate their movement when the need arises.
“I still remember her saying that she would even send a dispatch riser to hasten our return to the EC headquarters after our consultations with the Petitioner.”
These events have been detailed in a witness statement filed by lawyers of the petitioner. Already, the General Secretary for the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketsiah, and Dr. Kpessa-Whyte have all been cross-examined by lawyers of the two Respondents; the Electoral Commission, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Prior to the hearing of the petition, the NDC had advertised that they have about five witnesses to testify on behalf of the petitioner on matters regarding the petition.
