Some aggrieved supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have set ablaze the party’s office.
Their actions follow attempts by the National Executive Council (NEC) to conduct fresh elections in the area due to alleged electoral violations that characterised the process.
The supporters, who are unhappy about the decision, say they will resist any attempt for the elections to be reorganised.
Constituency secretary for NPP in Aowin, Isaac Brew who confirmed the incident says the matter has been reported to the police.
Seek internal resolution of your grievances
Managing partner of Marfo & Associates and a leading member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) legal and constitutional committee, Gary Nimako Marfo, has called on all persons vying for positions in the NPP from the polling station to the National level to seek resolution of their grievances internally instead of resorting to litigation.
According to Nimako Marfo, evidence available to the legal and constitutional committee of the Party points to the fact that virtually all the cases filed in courts across the country by candidates since the party commenced its internal elections, have either been dismissed or referred to the party to use its internal conflict resolution mechanisms to settle same.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Asaase News’ Wilberforce Asare, Gary Nimako Marfo, says the evidence available to him indicate that the overcome of aggrieved party members’ decision to heard to court at the least provocation is not worth the resources, time and energy spent to litigate.
He indicated that from 24 March to 18 May 2022, about 23 cases have filed and thus far, 16 of the cases have been dismissed by the various court hearing same with the rest either been withdrawn or referred for alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
Dismissed cases
Some of the cases that have been filed and subsequently dismissed are Jalil Ibn Tahir & 3 others versus Prince Benjamin Aboagye & another (Suit No. C13/39/2022), of the New Juaben South constituency, Koforidua in the Eastern Region. The Party, Mr Nimako Marfo, says, moved a motion on 24 March 2022 for the suit to be dismissed and same was granted by the court.
In the Kwadaso Constituency, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, Mr Marfo cited the case of Abu Mahama & another versus NPP (Suit No. C12/51/22). In this case, he noted that on 25 April 2022, lawyers of the NPP moved a motion to dismiss suit and the court dismissed it forthwith.
The case of Prince Atilley versus the NPP & 5 Others (Suit No. GJ/0553/2022), which involved party members from the Ablekuma West Constituency, in the Greater Accra Region, was also dismissed on the 8 April 2022.
“These and several others decisions on cases filed in our courts point to the fact that it is time for all NPP members to stop all forms of ligation and to come to the party leadership to have their challenges and concerns addressed” Mr Nimako Marfo said.
Internal elections
The NPP has thus far, held its polling station and constituency executives’ elections. A communiqué issued by the party on 13 May 2022, and signed by the general secretary, John Boadu, says the National Council, at a meeting held on Thursday 12 May 2022, has fixed the regional annual delegates’ conference which will among other things, elect regional executive officers of the party to serve a four-year term, for Friday 27 through to Sunday 29 May 2022.
Contested positions
Apart from the regional chairmanship positions, among the other posts to be contested during the regional annual delegates’ conference are first regional vice-chairperson, second regional vice-chairperson, regional secretary, assistant regional secretary and regional treasurer.
The other positions are regional organiser, regional women’s organiser, regional youth organiser and regional Nasara co-ordinator.
Internal mechanisms
As part of the rules and regulations approved by the National Council for the conduct of the elections, all individuals who decide to contest for positions in the regional elections will have to exhaust all internal grievance mechanisms and not resort to external means of dispute resolution.
“Any member of the party or aspirant who feels aggrieved at any point in the process SHALL exhaust ALL available internal resolution mechanisms in accordance with Article 4 of the Party Constitution and the decision of the National Appeals Committee on the matter shall be final and binding,” the communiqué signed by Boadu said.
Click on the link below to see the full list of cases and their status in court
New Patriotic Party (NPP) cases filed in Court by aspirants
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