The New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Brong Ahafo Regional elections have been marred by confusion after the party attempted to begin voting despite the absence of officials from the Electoral Commission (EC).
The confusion stemmed from disagreements over an injunction secured on the elections by the Atebubu Amantin Constituency branch of the NPP.
The Atebubu Amantin NPP had secured an injunction on the polls, pending a court hearing on the constituency’s disputed elections.
Though the delegates and members of the NPP in the Brong Ahafo region had gathered for the Congress, the EC did not show up to the venue, having been served with the injunction.
But a lawyer and former regional executive of the NPP in the region, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, pushed for the election to go ahead regardless and recommended that the general house give its blessings and contestants sign a bond to accept the outcome of the elections.
This did not go down well with the MP for Sunyani East, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, who vehemently kicked against the suggestion and urged the party to follow due process.
Mr. Ameyaw-Cheremeh maintained that elections of this nature must be supervised by the EC.
He reiterated to that the Congress that, per the party’s regulations, “the election shall be conducted by the Electoral Commission.”
The congress itself was scheduled to start at 9 am but commenced after midday following some confusion among delegates because of the injunction on the elections.
There was also a disagreement between some delegates and supporters from Kintampo North, and their colleagues from Atebubu Amantin over who had the right to vote in the elections.
The agitated supporters were left even more frustrated by delays and the failure of party officials to properly engage them.
But in a statement, the chairman of the party’s election committee, Kwasi Adu-Gyan, dismissed the said writ and said the interest of the party was supreme, stating that the Congress would proceed as planned.
“The background of this application is that there is an injunction restraining the delegates of Atebubu Amantin constituency from participating in the regional congress, the date for hearing for that particular injunction case is scheduled for May 11, 2018,” he said.
“The plaintiffs are praying the court to halt the Congress until the final determination of the Atebubu Amantin case. It must be noted that Atebubu Amantin alone cannot hold back the whole region as at least one-third of the delegates is required to form a quorum for the Congress,” the statement added.
Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of the Congress, the Police PRO, Chief Inspector Augustine Kingsley Oppong attributed the confusion to miscommunication.
He said the police quickly moved in to calm the situation, allowing the process to begin.
A total of 552 delegates will cast their ballots for the 30 persons who are contesting the various executive positions.
The incumbent regional organizer, Konlaabig Rasheed is the only aspirant going unopposed.
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By: Mashoud Kombat/citinewsroom.com/Ghana