Hackman Owusu-Agyeman's acclamation unconstitutional -

Accra, July 7, GNA - Dr. Samuel Yaw Annor, a former Eastern Regional Executive member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Monday called for the nullification of the purported acclamation of the incumbent Member of Parliament for New Juaben North Constituency, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman last week.

In a letter addressed to the National Chairman, Mr. Peter Mac Manu, and copied to the General Secretary, Eastern Regional Chairman, the Chairman Legal and Constitutional Committee of the party and other officials obtained by the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Dr. Annor said the regional and constituency executives failed to adhere to due procedure in accordance to NPP Constitution.

He explained that in the anxiety and over zealousness of the executives to give the incumbent MP the nod, they side-step the NPP Constitution, National Executive Committee directives and other administrative procedure.

He said the unanimous endorsement of Mr Owusu-Agyeman by alleged Polling Station Chairmen and Constituency Executives under the supervision of the New Juaben Municipal Electoral Officer, Ms Lydia Agyiri was an affront to the NPP Constitution.

He said Article 6 (section 20) of the NPP Constitution obligates the executives to give a notice not later than seven days before the date for an Emergency Delegates Conference with the agenda for the Conference specified.

He said: "This action is totally unconstitutional. One of the fundamental things that brings NPP together is the fact that we champion the respect for Rule of Law and Democracy.

"This act sets a very dangerous precedent which could serve as a nucleous for conflict in the Constituency and should be condemned; our democracy is maturing and practices like this set our growth backward." The acclamation followed an Accra Fast Truck High Court's decision to quash an application to restrain the National, Regional and Consistency Executives of the party from holding a primary to elect a Parliamentary candidate in the area.

The suit was filed by Hayman Yeboah, Eric Osei and Asilifi Nyarko, all polling station chairmen of New Juaben North Constituency. The respondents were the NPP National Chairman, Peter Mac Manu; Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, Eastern Regional Chairman; Alecs Agobo, Eastern Regional Secretary and Joseph Oduro Mensah, New Juaben North Constituency Chairman.

Meanwhile a report by Eastern Regional Disciplinary Committee made available to the Ghana News Agency admitted that Dr Samuel Yaw Annor, Regional Treasurer dully resigned on February 28, this years in fulfilment of the NPP Constitution in order to contest for the Parliamentary primaries for the New Juaben North.

The report was jointly signed by Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, Chairman; Mr Kwabena Bempong and Madam Florence Adu-Amankwa members.

The report indicates that a Constituency Official Mr James Dwamena Yamoah who received the resignation letter failed to notify the Executives, kept the letter beyond the March 1at the deadline for filling of nomination.

The Eastern Regional Disciplinary Committee report also indicates that by the close of the mandatory deadline of March 1st as set by the National Executive Committee for serving Party Officials at all levels resign before picking the Party's Parliamentary forms, Dr Annor's resignation letter was in the knowledge of the Assistance Regional Secretary.

In spite of the findings, the Committee said; "the entire circumstances surrounding the writing, receipt and the eventual communication of the contents of the said resignation letter to the appropriate authorities is so suspicious that its legitimacy and credibility cannot be guaranteed."

Dr Annor however, has also petitioned the National Chairman against the findings of the Easter Regional Disciplinary Committee's findings and called on the National Executives to institute fresh investigation into the conduct of the Assistance Regional Secretary, which led to his disqualification.