Gt Accra GPRTU restrained from holding elections

Accra, Aug. 27, GNA- An Accra Fast Track High Court presided by Justice Peter Dei Ofei, has restrained the Greater Accra Regional executives of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) from organizing next month's Regional Secretariat election. It said the election could not be organised until the 2009 and 2010 accounts of the secretariat have been prepared and audited by the Government Audit Service and discussed by the Regional Executive Council under the supervision of the National Executives of the GPRTU as contained in the 2007 Constitution of the Union.

In his ruling, Justice Dei Ofei said going by the constitution, there should be a letter of appointment from a Government Audit Service for Auditors to undertake the auditing of the 2009 and 2010 accounts of the Regional Branch of the GPRTU.

He said the Audit Report should be endorsed by the Head of the Government Audit Service or be submitted under a covering letter from the Government Audit Service as having been authenticated by the head or his lawful representative and the audited accounts discussed within 21 days from the date of the ruling. The ruling said that the Regional Elections should be held in accordance with the provisions of the 2007 GPRTU constitution within 21 days from the date the audited reports are discussed upon 14 days notice to all the branches. The guidelines and the list of paid up branches should also be made available to members as well as the notices for the elections should be made available to members at least 14 days before the elections.

Justice Dei Ofei said he had made the orders noting that both the Audit Report and the Elections were respectively to be made and discussed this year.

Mr Isaac Ahuma Kubi, Chairman of the Teshie-Nungua Mini-bus Branch and Mr Samuel Kofi Atitsogbui, Chairman of the Accra New Town Branch of the union, had sought a declaration of the court on an intended Regional Delegates Congress to elect Regional Officers scheduled for Tuesday 20th July, 2011 that 93violated the Union's constitution".

They therefore sought an order of the court directed at the National Executive Council of the GPRTU to supervise this year's elections of the Accra Regional Branch of the union.

Mr Ahuma Kubi and Mr Atitsogbui also asked the court to order the Auditor General or his appointed representative to conduct a forensic audit into the Greater Accra Regional Branch accounts and to submit a report to the various branches under the Region.

They also asked the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the Regional Chairman, Alhaji A E Tetteh, the Regional Vice Chairman, Mr Robert Sarbah, Mr Emmanuel Kwakuvie and Mr Jacob Odae, first and second Trustees respectively, from conducting any election pending the outcome of the audit.

Mr Ahuma Kubi and Mr Atitsogbui also called for the appointment of an Interim Management Committee to manage the affairs of the Regional Branch pending the outcome of the audit. 27 Aug.11