A High Court Justice, Justice Anna Taylor has called on Ghanaians, particularly politicians, to accept election results declared at polling stations, emphasizing that it is not the court's role to announce election winners.

During her speech at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre’s Stakeholder Dialogue Series in Kumasi, Justice Taylor highlighted the need for thorough education on Ghana's electoral system.

She acknowledged that while there is general recognition that elections are decided at the polling stations, there remains a common tendency to turn to the judiciary for resolving disputes.

“If the necessary education has gone on, the parties involved, [they] should also be ready to accept the results because I hear people say over and over again that elections are won at the polling stations.

But, of course, they know where the elections are won, at the end of the day, they want to go to the court for the courts to pronounce who has won.

So, we must understand the law, understand how they operate, and I believe if there is a trust system, then everything will go on smoothly”, Justice Taylor said.

She also noted that delays in resolving election disputes are often due to the necessary legal timelines and procedures but assured that the Judicial Service is equipped to handle such matters effectively.

“People may expect that, immediately the petition is filed, within three days, everything must be resolved, it is not possible, because you should remember, there are even timelines. When you should even file your petition, the law has spelled it. Then when it is filed, the other party must respond.

It all comes within time frames that have been set…but of course, the courts can manage its time, and allot more time to matters that are pending and give some priority to the election petition.”

“The Judicial Service is ready, and the forums for resolving disputes are already available and when you look at the law, at times, it’s as if we, we are looking forward to having disputes and the law itself is ready to accommodate disputes”, the High Court Judge remarked.