Five months after his election, the New Patriotic Party (NPP’s) parliamentary candidate for the Tema West constituency, Carlos Ahenkorah has been sued by some disgruntled members of the party.
The members; Nana Yaw Ntim and Christian Joseph want a re-run of the election in the Tema West Constituency.
[contextly_sidebar id=”VYYyhPani3Hsc6mZDF6NHt9692bL11ci”]They argue that the NPP’s National Executive Committee (NEC), prior to the poll, directed that Ga-Adangme constituencies should be contested by only indigenous residents, hence for a non-indigene to be elected in Tema West is in contravention of the party’s decision.
The complainants are praying the court to declare Mr. Ahenkorah’s election “null, void and of no effect.”
They also want the court to order the NPP to re-run the primary in the area.
The NPP has been joined to the lawsuit.
Carlos Ahenkorah who contested the incumbent MP, Naa Torshie Addo, faced fierce opposition from some party members who accused him of not helping the party in the constituency.
The disagreements delayed his clearance by the party’s Vetting Committee but he was subsequently given the green light.
Mr. Ahenkorah during the election held on July 25, 2015, polled 503 while Naa Torshie Addo had 273.
The other contender Adwoa Amoakoa had 2 votes.
Reliefs:
1. A declaration that NPP’s election of Carlos Ahenkorah to contest the parliamentary primaries of the Tema West Constituency is in contravention of the NPP’s NEC decision taken on 23/03/15 in respect of the Tema West Constituency and article 9(d) of the NPP’s constituency to the extent that it permitted Carlos Ahenkorah a non-Ga indigene to contest the parliamentary primaries of the Tema West Constituency.
2. A declaration that by virtue of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Benjamin Eyi Mensah v Electoral Commission and Anor dated 27/02/15 Carlos Ahenkorah was not a registered voter of the Tema West Constituency at the time he contested the NPP’s parliamentary primaries in the Tema West Constituency.
3.A declaration that by reason of (1) and (2) above or either of them Carlos Ahenkorah purported election by NPP as NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the Tema West Constituency is null, void and of no effect.
4.An order directing NPP to implement NPP’s NEC decision taken at its meeting dated the 23rd day of March 2015 in respect of the Tema West Constituency to wit: that NPP be represented by a Ga indigene in the parliamentary primaries for the upcoming 2016 parliamentary elections.
5. An order of perpetual injunction restraining Carlos Ahenkorah from contesting the parliamentary election of the Tema West Constituency on NPP’s ticket.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana