Election of Chief Scout call off

Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - A Special General Meeting (SGM) of the National Scout Council of the Ghana Scout Association (GSA) scheduled for Saturday 16 January, to elect a Chief Scout Commissioner and his Deputy was called off at the last minute.

Just as the delegates for the meeting made up of Scout Commissioners had converged at the Baden Powel Memorial Hall in Accra for the election, a letter signed by Mr. Jerry Aikins, Deputy Chief Scout was handed over to them.

In the letter Mr. Aikins who signed the invitation letter for the meeting stated that "It is my belief that should this meeting be held today, a member or some members may cite the Council for Contempt of Court or take injunctive relief on the Council". The letter said members knew or ought to know that there was a suit pending in Court and that the Court has not restrained the incumbents from holding themselves as officers of the Association. The Deputy Chief Scout pointed out that failure to hold the SGM as planned may lead to GSA's suspension from the World Organisation of Scout Movement.

He said the Africa Regional Office and the Africa Scouts Council had done their utmost but it seems the GSA is not ready to comply with the standards of the Movement.

He stated his commitment to the principle that the well being of GSA and Scouting in general is far more important than the individual ambitions of anyone.

Mr. Aikins said he believed that seeking redress in a Law Court of competent jurisdiction was the right thing to do as it served the best long-term interest of the GSA.

He promised to keep them informed of all developments.

Giving a background to the impasse within the GSA, Mr. Abdul Aziz Tagoe, a Scout Commissioner and member of the Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) Planning Committee, said there was leadership crisis. He said the Africa Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal led by Lamine Diawara led a team to invite aggrieved groups who were in court, the Interim Management Committee and members of the National Executive Council on 13th June 2009 and drew a roadmap for the AGM.

Mr. Tagoe said this led to the formation of an Extraordinary General Meeting that led to the election of a new Deputy Chief Scout and the formation of a five-member to the Elective Council AGM, which should have been held on Saturday. 17 Jan. 10