CPP congress faces interim injunction
Motion on notice for an order for interim injunction to restrain the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) from holding its September 9th and 10th Extra-Ordinary National Delegates Congress has been filed at Koforidua High Court.
The order is also seeking for the restraining of seven leading members of the party in the Eastern Region from holding themselves out as acting as or assuming office as Regional Executive Officers of the party.
A copy of the order suit no.E3/06/2011 filed by Korsah and Associates, Accra, made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday, said the court will move on Monday September 19, 2011 on the suit.
The plaintiffs are; Vincent Dadzie of House No N/1 208 Nkwakwa Zongo; Kofi Siaw Frimpong, House No. C23/3 Akim Oda; and Isaac Omari, house No. F 147, Aduagyir Nkawkaw.
The Defendants are; Seth Mpare, Joe Djangay, Samuel Kwakye, Fred Odame, Kweku Zah, David Terkper, Olivia Addo, Emmanuel Ogbordjor, Kofi Henaku, Simon Akor Dugbater, Alfred Loverance sackitey, Mariam Mustapha, Mudasiru Kassim and Odartey Hayford.
The party was served as Co-Defendant in the case.
The plaintiff noted that the National Delegates Congress was due soon, and that unless stopped by an injunction from the court, the persons sought to be so restrained by the application will attend the said congress in the capacity they do not merit.
It also noted that the Co-Defendant (CPP) unless stopped by an order of the Court will go ahead and hold its national Delegates Congress.
The Plaintiffs noted that the Eastern Region will be disenfranchised if their executives are not present or if persons who attend by virtue of a flawed and disputed election are allowed to attend on their behalf.
An affidavit in support of the motion by the first Defendant on behalf of the other two indicates on June 30, this year, the Eastern Regional Executives of the CPP organised election for the selection of regional executive officers of the party.
At the said election, 1st, 5th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Defendants herein were elected as the eastern regional executive Officers of the party.
The affidavit further states that the said election was held in flagrant violation of the express provisions of the CPP 1996 Constitution.
“That contrary to the express provisions of the CPP manifesto which stipulates that each constituency shall present nine persons to complete the regional congress of the party.”
The affidavit noted that only person per constituency being the constituency chairman, secretary, organiser, and women’s organiser were accredited to vote at the election.
The plaintiff asserted that the said election was irredeemable flawed on account of the selective accreditation to members, who were already qualified to participate in the election, and non-accreditation of others who were equally qualified.
It will be recalled that on Monday 5th September Ghana News Agency (GNA) filed a story, which revealed that CPP’s Congress slated for September 9-10 in Accra, was in danger as the party faced imminent court injunction to restrain the National Executives from conducting the congress.
Information available to GNA in Accra on Monday indicates that some leading personalities and pressures groups close to the camp of an aspiring flag bearer have declared their intention to take legal action against the organisers of the event.
When GNA visited the CPP headquarters, it observed anxious National Executive members making frantic efforts to persuade the aggrieved persons and groups to stop the action, which they considered as an embarrassment to the party.
The party initially fixed April 29-30 for the congress but it was postponed to May 27-29 and later rescheduled for June ending, mainly due to operational hiccups and organisational challenges.
Since June the date of the congress has been postponed averagely, on monthly basis, until the Central Committee last Tuesday, August 30, finally confirmed September 9-10 as the definitive dates for congress.
The uncertainty surrounding the date for the congress has created anxious moments among CPP aspirants and a large section of the rank and file of the party as the regular postponement and change of venue from Takoradi to Accra had made it difficult for serious campaigning.
An eminent member of the Central Committee of the party, who claimed anonymity, in an interview with GNA, said that apart from the treat of court injunction, the party was also constrained by financial difficulties as party barons and godfathers have failed to roll in the needed funds for congress.
“…most of them are mainly interested in controlling the party machinery rather than ensuring that we organise to elect the capable candidate for national leadership position,” the eminent member of the Central Committee said.
He explained that the party needed enough funds to pay for the congress venue, logistics, accommodation and feeding for the about 2,300 delegates, transportation and other contingency services.
The eminent member of the Central Committee said unfortunately, leading political figures within the party, especially those with presidential ambitions are rather using their resources to project themselves across the length and breadth of the country, whiles the party famish to death.
He said in spite of these obstacles, the Central Committee was committed to upholding the party’s principles adding ”we would prevent our electoral processes to be corrupt, which might produce a leader, who may lack the legitimacy, respect or moral authority to lead our nation.”
Source: GNA