What will happen at the Supreme Court today?

Today, the Supreme Court of Ghana will hear an aspect of the NPP's petition which has been filed before it, to wit, the NDC's application to join the Petition as a Respondent. I noticed many media houses are referring to today's hearing as the hearing of the Petition. The substantive Petition will not be heard today but probably within the next five days as the Rules stipulate.

So what exactly will happen today? The task before the Supreme Court today is basically to determine whether or not the NDC is a necessary party to be joined to the Petition. The NDC argues that John Mahama was elected on their Party's ticket and therefore they have a 'direct stake' in his election. In Ghana, however, personalities are elected and not political parties. But there is the valid argument that the political parties sponsor the candidacy of the person to be elected.

The NPP is of course opposed to the NDC's application and argues that the NDC is not a necessary party for the determination of all issues in their Petition and accordingly should not be joined to the Petition. One may understand the NPP's position; in that any joinder is likely to delay the hearing of the substantive Petition. The outcome of the joinder itself will have a political and psychological effect on the parties in the Petition. Whoever wins may viewed in the eyes of the public as 1-0 up in the fight.

What will be interesting to note today also is the panel of judges who will sit and hear this instant application. It may or may not be the exact panel that will hear the substantive Petition but it will give an indication.