John Boadu brokers peace at Ellembelle; polling station elections begin Saturday

The New Patriotic Party has settled the dispute that caused the party’s polling station elections to be put on hold at Ellembelle in the Western Region.

The Sekondi High Court placed a temporary ban on the polling station elections in the Ellembelle constituency following an action initiated by some members of the party who accused the regional party chairman of favouring his friends in the polls.

Justice Bright Mensah granted a request for the matter to the Western Regional Minister for an out-of-court settlement.

Though the aggrieved parties reached a settlement terms, it was never executed by the NPP or any officer authorized by the party to execute same on its behalf. It was also not executed by some of the parties to the suit.

Acting General Secretary John Boadu intervened and held a meeting between the parties on April 3 at which an amicable settlement to the dispute was reached.

After hours of deliberations all the parties to the dispute agreed that a 7-member Polling Station/Constituency Elections Committee be constituted to see to the conduct of polling station, electoral area and constituency executives elections in the Elembelle Constituency.

The said committee is constituted by three national representatives appointed by the national party in consultation with the regional executive committee and regional minister as well as 2 representatives appointed by each of the two feuding factions.

The national reps are Kwaku Afari (chairman), Capt. Kwabena Adu (secretary) and Tining Amoako, whereas the other representatives appointed by each of two feuding factions are: Daniel Ntiako, Stephen Yaw, Isaac Polley and Amonle Amartey.

April 7 to 11 has been fixed for the conduct fresh elections in the remaining 92 polling stations in the constituency where elections were put on hold due to the wrangling.

“All the feuding parties have also agreed that 25 selected polling station election results shall stand and not be disturbed,” a statement signed and issued by Mr. Boadu said.

Electoral Area Coordinators’ elections will then follow from April 13-15 2018, while the Elembelle Constituency primaries/elections will be held on 18th April, 2018.

Appointment of other constituency officers [non elective executives] would be done on April 19, 2018

“Except as otherwise provided for in this agreed roadmap, the party’s guidelines for the conduct of polling station and constituency elections shall guide the conduct of these elections,” the statement indicated.

It called for the full cooperation of all the parties to this settlement agreement and wished all the prospective candidates the very best of luck.