Effia-Kwesimintsim NPP Members File Writ

A section of members of the Effia Kwesimintsim Constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has instituted an action at a Sekondi High Court to set aside the constituency elections held on June 28, this year.

The members are also seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the NPP, its regional chairman, officials and members from working with the persons elected during the Effia Kwesimintsim Constituency delegates conference at the Takoradi Secondary School this year.

According to a writ which was filed on behalf of the members by three leading members of the party, namely Messrs Alex Adjei, J.O.A. Kankam and M.K. Asiam, the defendants failed to follow laid down procedures and allowed unqualified voters to vote during the June 28 constituency election.

The plaintiffs claim that prior to the election, the compilation of the list of polling station executives and the issuing of photo ID cards for the purpose were abused.

The plaintiffs said some of the members of the constituency subsequently petitioned the regional disciplinary committee of the party for redress, since there was no constituency disciplinary committee in place. The plaintiffs stated that the petitioners were asked to direct their letter to the regional chairman of the party, which they did.

According to the petitioners, the regional chairmen ignored their grievances while the delegates conference was scheduled to be carried on. The plaintiffs further noted that some of the aggrieved party members subsequently instituted an action in a Sekondi Circuit Court which was dismissed on the grounds that the petitioners had not exhausted the grievance procedure.

They also stated that in addition to the earlier action at the Circuit Court, the petitioners complained in letters to the regional and national disciplinary committees that the list of the constituency electoral college which was released to the general meeting of the Effia Kwesimintsim constituency NPP members had been altered and omitted, while new names had been listed.

They claimed that despite the petition sent, it was ignored and on June 28, 2003, the constituency had its delegates conference and elected its executive under protest. The petitioners emphasised that the electoral college included members who were not qualified to vote because they were not members of the polling station executive at places assigned to them.

According to the plaintiffs, before the elections, the correct names were mentioned and the qualified voters were given badges.

They, however, noted that when the Metropolitan Chief Executive for the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, and the Member of Parliament for the constituency entered the voting hall, a new list and badges were issued and supplied to the delegates by the regional chairman of the party.

They said all delegates wearing the badges were then ordered to leave the hall, after which new voters, who included unqualified voters, were issued with new badges and allowed access to vote.