Conduct Polling Station Elections properly - Obetsebi-Lamptey

Accra, Nov 03, GNA - The executive of the Kpone-Katamanso constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been directed to conduct Polling Station elections properly before the Constituency Delegates Conference could be held.

This is contained in a statement in Accra by the Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Branch of the NPP, Mr J O Obetsebi-Lamptey to the Chairman of the Kpone Katamanso Constituency Executive, Mr Addy Manyo-Plange.

The Regional Chairmen pointed out that the Regional Executive must sanction a constituency delegates' conferences unless otherwise agreed by all concerned or directed by the appropriate authority. The statement directed that delegates entitled to attend such conferences must be those elected in the polling station elections, which are now being conducted in the party generally. The Regional Chairman pointed out that a Regional Officer must supervise the election of constituency executives at Delegates Conferences personally.

It said since the nullification of the selection of polling station chairpersons in the Kpone Katamanso constituency, the Greater Accra, the Regional Executive of the party had not sanctioned any delegates' conference to elect constituency officers.

Mr Obetsebi Lamptey said that the purported delegates conference attended by the sitting polling station chairpersons on 11 October 2005 was improperly composed to elect a new constituency executive. He pointed out that the delegates' conference was held without authority and said the proceedings of the conference were therefore invalid and not recognised.

The statement noted that it was misleading to suggest that the Regional Chairman directed the Constituency Chairman to convene a meeting of the existing polling station chairpersons to "find a way forward to holding a constituency congress".

It stated that Mr Manyo-Plange was not given such directive and that the constituency executive was specifically directed to go and conduct polling station elections properly.

Mr Manyo-Plange in a statement on 8th October this year to all constituency executives and polling station chairpersons in the Kpone Katamanso constituency said he had been directed by the Regional Chairman to invite them to an emergency meeting on Tuesday 11th October 2005 to elect a new constituency executive.

Some executive members led by the Constituency Vice Chairman boycotted the meeting, however, there was a quorum and the meeting went ahead and passed a resolution to hold the constituency congress and elected executive members on 13 October to take part in both the Regional and National congress of the party.