Constituency drags regional executives to court

The age-long brouhaha in the Ho Central Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which appeared to have been overlooked by the national executive, has now changed gear. The bullfight will from now on take place in the "ring" of the high courts here for what observers call a " winner takes all" affair.

This is because nine constituency executives have sued the entire regional hierarchy at the court for attempting to hold and holding another congress, contrary to the party's constitution; and have caused a perpetual injunction to be placed on the said congress.

The suit, which was registered May 30, this year, in the name of the Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice E. K. Wiredu, was numbered CS 17/2003. It has Seth Anyadi, Theophilus Foli, Geoffery Dzomeku, Nicholas Abotsi, Veronica Anai, Kwame Frimpong, Queen Amesu, M.K.Awui and Robert Tesah (all representing the constituency) as the plaintiffs; and listed Kenwood Nuworsu, Kwame Attah, Grace Mensah, Jonson Avulete and Chris Azawudi and all the regional executives as defendants.

An eight-day grace period had been given the defendants to appear or, in default, have judgement passed without further notice.

In an 11-point statement of claim, the plaintiffs insist they are at all material times the elected and inducted executive of the party as a result of an April 12 congress; and that any other congress is null and void since it breaches the party's laws.

The constituency branch had been in crisis since January 5, this year, but party faithful here are of the view that Mr. Harouna Esseku, national chairman, had every opportunity on earth to avert the legal action when he visited the region about a week ago.

At a meeting held on May 24 at the government residency Mr. Esseku, having smelt rat as a result of the escalating tension, verbally asked that the intended second congress of last Saturday be suspended; but this was virtually rubbished by the region because the order was not biting enough, and some people went ahead and organised it.

Dramatically the writ was served by the bailiff in the middle of events at the Freedom Hotel in the presence of the deputy regional minister, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, and district chief executive, Mawutor Goh.

It will be recalled that the chronology of events that brought the party this low in the constituency are numerous and dates to the day a group of members took to the streets in protest against what they felt were injustices in the party.

Then came the April 12 congress which elected most of those tagged as "rebels" into the executive, much to the distaste of many regional gurus. That congress, however, had the blessing of the Electoral Commission (EC).

Incidentally, that ceremony led to a long chain reaction, one of which was a cold war between the regional secretary, who swore in the precipitating executive and went ahead to congratulate them, and the acting regional chairman.

Pressmen who went to cover the event also had their share of crossfire hostilities with threats of death being issued to them. So far, Messrs Adjetey Sowah of the Independent Newspaper and Rex Fafa Dogoe, a businessman, are walking on thin ropes because they have been so threatened.

Chronicle can tell that platoons of policemen sent to last Saturday's second congress had for several hours prevented the court bailiff from serving the suits and had a near scuffle with him at the gate.

The paper's antennae also picked what looked like a hastily arranged meeting after the congress at the government residency between high ranking NPP members and two popular high court judges in a desperate move to seek constitutional interpretations and legal pep talks.

But what observers find worrying in the on-going impasse is the factionalism which is given a cosmetic approach at the top. For instance Chronicle has unearthed sufficient evidence that the archaic Kufuor/Akufo-Addo tags that have long been removed all over the country are still being religiously worn in many parts of the region.

This paper has observed that those who have the president's ear apparently give lip service to him that all opposing factions are in the Akufo-Addo camp and should be ignored.

It is therefore not surprising to hear in town that Tommy Amematekpor, a special assistant to the president, and others are for the "old man"; while Ms. Elizabeth Ohene and the rest are branded as doing a "dirty job" for the Foreign minister.

These and other devices are being employed to create disaffection among members in the Ho West constituency by certain aspiring parliamentary candidates who want to stand on the party's ticket.

Meanwhile, all appears set for the legal political tango of the year. Hayibor, Djarbeng and Co. Chambers of Kokomlemle in Accra are soliciting for the plaintiffs. The defendants and their lawyers are expected to appear in court next week.