Young Elephants Dissolved

The Eastern Region branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with a directive from its headquarters, has dissolved the Young Elephant Movement (YEM) in the Koforidua constituency.

According to the party, the movement contravenes its constitution and goes against the directive of the national executive of the youth wing, hence the dissolution.

These were contained in a letter which the party issued to the members of the movement in Koforidua on September 9 this year by the regional secretary, Mr. Seth M. Ahyiah.

A copy of the letter, which is in the hands of the Chronicle, made it clear that there should be a youth wing of the party and the constituency youth organiser should be its chairman or president.

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting which was held on September 8 to explain the unconstitutional manner in which YEM was formed and its dissolution created a big misunderstanding ending the meeting abruptly.

At the Koforidua Community Center, where the meeting was held, some executives were seen exchanging harsh words among themselves and with the members of YEM.

Chronicle investigations revealed that the YEM emerged in the party immediately after the 2000 elections with the knowledge of the Koforidua constituency and the regional executives.

YEM members have been collecting monies from the party supporters and sympathisers with promises of making them party executives in the constituency and divert them.

The regional secretary said because the polling stations must be restructured and they are not ,the regional secretariat decided to postpone the elections from September 14 to an unconfirmed date.

In line with this the Koforidua constituency executives had been given seven days to produce a comprehensive list of polling station executives to enable it confirm a date for the congress.

"No constituency congress can take place without the submission of the polling station executives list to the regional secretariat," Mr. Ahayia warned.

He also instructed the YEM members to transfer all monies they have collected into the accounts of the Koforidua constituency executives.