Kwabre West NPP chairman petitions Chief Justice

Kumasi, June 10, GNA - Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, Chairman of the Kwabre West constituency of the NPP, has petitioned the Chief Justice, expressing misgivings at the circumstances under which a case involving him and one Alfred Kobi was transferred from the Kumasi High Court 'five' to High Court 'four'.

Briefing newsmen in Kumasi on Friday, Odeneho Appiah called for the order of transfer to be revoked so as to ensure smooth trial of the case.

Mr Kobi, the plaintiff, last year initiated a court action against Odeneho Appiah and Mr F.F Antoh, immediate past Ashanti regional NPP chairman, challenging the eligibility of Odeneho Appiah to contest the Kwabre West Constituency chairmanship, which he won. The plaintiff's held that Odeneho Appiah was not a resident of the constituency and therefore called for the nullification of the election. Odeneho Appiah told reporters on Friday that he suspected foul play at the circumstances under which the case was transferred. He said he did not understand to why his counsel was not given prior notice of the order of transfer, which was purported to have emanated from the Chief Justice.

In October last year, the National Steering Committee of the NPP concluded that the Kwabre West Constituency elections and subsequent swearing-in of Odeneho Appiah as chairman was duly done and also in harmony with the Party's constitution.

This was after the Committee had heard a petition brought against Odeneho Appiah over his eligibility to stand for the elections. In spite of this ruling by the Committee, Mr Kobi who was not satisfied with this development filed a writ at the Kumasi High court five, demanding the nullification of the election on the grounds that Odeneho Appiah was elected in contravention with the NPP's constitution. When the case was called on Wednesday, the high court four, presided over by Mr Justice E.H Ampadu, adjourned the case to June 19 for hearing. 10 June 06