The four applicants are Mr Adolph Vanderpuye, Mr Justice K. Aba-Billa, Madam Monica Teinor and Mr Yaw Owusu-Manu while the defendants to the suit are the NPP’s National Chairman, Regional Chairman and Tema East Constituency Chairman.

In a writ of summons filed by K. San Law Firm, solicitors for the polling station executives at the Court on February 28, the aggrieved members asked for “an order nullifying the polling station elections conducted on the 20^th and 21^st of January, 2018 to elect polling station officers in the Tema East Constituency”.

They also prayed for an order directing the defendants to sell new nomination forms to members of the party aspiring for positions at the polling stations and a fresh election conducted.

The applicants further wanted an injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, assigns, among others from concluding any further elections using the newly compiled albums to conduct any election within the constituency.

In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs noted the nomination forms for the election which were supposed to arrive at the constituency office on January 16th for aspirants to purchase “found their way into the office of the MP”.

They added that the sale of the forms rather began in the evening of January 18^th and 11:00 hours of January 19th without adequate publicity to prospective aspirants.

The plaintiffs indicated that all aspirants who got wind of the sale late, rushed to purchase, completed the forms and submitted it at about 14:00 hours had their forms rejected on the grounds that nomination has closed.

“According to plaintiffs, the Research and Election Officer who was present at that time, collected the rejected forms which were closed to 500 but on the day of the election that is Saturday, 20^th January, 2018, the chairman at PSEC declared those whose forms were in his custody as having to be duly elected unopposed”,

It added that the polling station executives and some concerned members, petitioned both the constituency, and regional secretariat of the party about the irregularities, illegalities and malpractices but nothing was done.

They concluded that “the polling station election of Tema East Constituency has been compromised by illegalities, thus undermining the constitution of the NPP and the NPP rules and regulations governing polling station elections.

Meanwhile, a similar application filed and moved at the Tema High Court ‘A’ on February 27, was dismissed on grounds that it was “premature”.

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Source: GNA

The post Group wants court to nullify NPP’s Tema East constituency polls appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Mr. Ashitey, the nominee who coincidentally bears the same surname [Ashitey] with him, has no family connection with him whatsoever, adding that he as the Regional Party Chairmam,  is rather related to the MP, Titus Glover.

“Titus is my nephew and it remains so. Ben Ashitey has no relationship with me. It just so happens that we bare the same surname”

Earlier this week, some executives of the Tema East constituency NPP held a press conference accusing Mr. Ishmael Ashitey of rooting for one Ben Ashitey whom they claim is related to the Regional Chairma,  to become the MCE for the Tema Metropolis.

In an interview with Citi News at his Tema residence, Mr. Ishmael Ashitey, who has also been nominated to be the Greater Accra Regional Minister, denied the allegations and said “though we bear the same surname, the young man has no family relation with me; but rather it is Titus who is related to me. I am Titus’ uncle” he noted

He said there are five Clans in the capital that bear the name Ashitey, and that it is a mere coincidence for which he and the MCE aspirant bare the same name.

Asked whether he had an interest in the gentleman’s quest to become the MCE for Tema, he said “the NPP is a democratic party that has laid down procedures and systems that would be followed in the selection of who becomes an MCE, and that the party has what it is looking for in a candidate to be selected so why would I back any candidate? They have all applied on their own merit and the party will look through their CVs and select the best for the people. Factors to be considered however would include the candidate’s commitment, dedication and loyalty to the party,” he explained.

He accused Mr. Titus Glover of fighting a personal battle with Ben Ashitey since the young man contested him during the NPP primary in 2015, where he [Ben Ashitey] lost by a margin of 49 votes.

“Titus is fighting a personal fight for the guy to be disqualified in the race because he sees him as a threat in future. Ben Ashitey contested Titus Glover in 2015 during the constituency primary so perhaps he sees him as a threat in future because he won the guy by 49 votes”

Mr. Ashitey noted that, he handpicked Titus Glover and some other candidates from a Tema-based association called Tema Youth years ago, and introduced them to the NPP so under no circumstance will he work against him.

“I handpicked Titus and some other guys who were at the time strong NDC surporters in Tema, and introduced them to the NPP; so why would I work against my own boys that I handpicked years ago? As we speak, some of the guys I handpicked and brought into the NPP are equally vying for the MCE position. So I don’t have any personal interest in who becomes an MCE in Tema. All I need is someone who understands the party’s vision clearly to help the party deliver on its numerous promises to the people” he stated

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By: Elvis Washington/citifmoline.com/Ghana

The post I’m not related to Tema MCE aspirant; Titus is ‘fighting’ him – Ashitey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Responding to comments by some constituency executives of Tema East, Mr. Ben Ashitey denied claims that he worked against the NPP’s interest.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YV78O0XqbKsDRMxiYnuGa91gMQqvnksd”]He said he is a full card bearing and a committed member of the party who has helped champion the good of the party in the constituency over the years.

“I am a full-time card bearing member of the NPP and under no circumstance have I ever campaigned or influenced a group of persons to vote against the NPP in the run-up to the 2016 elections”

Mr. Ashitey noted that, the issues raised by some of the constituency executives at their press conference are all lies seeking to tarnish his hard earned reputation.

“I have been an NPP member for a very long time and I have worked and supported the party in diverse ways so I am surprised some of the executives have launched an agenda to destroy my image for no apparent reason. During the 2016 election campaign, I together with Titus Glover and the constituency chairman campaigned vigorously to ensure a massive win for the party in the constituency so I don’t get where their sudden hatred and attempt to tarnish my reputation is coming from. I don’t get it? What’s their motivation?

Mr Ashitey in the 2015 NPP Parliamentary Primary contested the incumbent Member of Parliament Titus Glover, where he lost to the incumbent by 49 votes.

“Since my defeat in 2015, I have continually campaigned and worked for the party so it is preposterous for some of my executives to deliberately work against my person.”

Mr Ashitey further stated that, he has no family connection whatsoever with the Greater Accra Regional Minister nominee who’s also the Regional party Chairman, adding that it is a mere coincidence that he has the same surname with him.

On the allegation of him being pushed or imposed on them for the position of MCE for Tema, Mr Ashitey noted that “Yes, I have applied for the top position of MCE, but I did that on my own merit and conviction. I have what our constitution requires for the top job so all I did was to put in my application for the position, and if the party after perusing all applications feels I am the best candidate, I shall gladly serve the party in that capacity and ensure I deliver to the best of my ability”

Mr Ashitey called on the party executives in the constituency to put aside personal sentiments and consider the good of the party and the people of Tema.

“I urge my party people to put aside personal sentiments and address issues head-on, rather than involving personal interest. We are one people with a common vision so why must we tear ourselves apart over who becomes an MCE” he queried

He called on the public to disregard the press conference held by some of the executives saying they are malicious and lack merit.

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By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I’m committed to NPP – Ben Ashitey rebuffs critics appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Addressing the media at Tema Community One, the Tema East Constituency Chairman, Nene Ofoe Teye, said “the entire leadership of the party in the Tema Metropolis will not countenance the act of imposition by the regional chairman in the selection of who becomes the MCE of Tema.”

Nene Ofoe added that, Mr Ashitey in the run up to the elections in 2016, ruled out Tema East from the constituencies that would retain its Member of Parliament for the NPP in the Greater Accra Region, hence his failure to support the campaign.

“During the 2016 election, Mr. Ashitey ruled Tema East out completely that we were not going to retain our seat due to the margin the party got in 2012. We worked hard to win the 2016 elections from a margin of three votes in 2012 to a difference of over four thousand.”

Mr. Ofoe Teye also alleged that “there is a purported letter coming from the Tema traditional council that has been written under the influence of Mr Ashitey in an attempt to back his preferred choice, but we shall resist such a move at all cost since it is not credible”

He said “Mr. Ashitey has managed to stampede the selection process and has totally disregarded the voice of the masses which will be recipe for political instability in the Tema Metropolis. We shall fiercely resist Mr. Ashitey same way he is being resisted in the Ashaiman constituency and other places in the region.”

Mr. Teye called for a free, fair and transparent process in the selection of the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tema.

Ashaiman: Assembly members warn against imposition of MCE 

In a related development, some constituency executives in Ashaiman, have also warned Mr. Ashitey to desist from imposing the second regional vice chairman on them since he has not done much for the party.

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By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’ll resist imposition of MCE by Ashitey – Tema East NPP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to her, Ghanaians have only  experienced bad governance and incompetence under the NDC government.

“…You want us to see you, we see you but we see incompetence, we see you but we see corruption, we see you but we see bad management, we see you but we see bad governance, we see you but we want change, we see you but we want Ghana to move forward,” Samira Bawumia made the claim while speaking at the party’s Greater Accra Regional launch in the Tema East constituency on Sunday.

She also chastised the NDC government for spending GHc3.6 million of Ghana’s oil revenue on branding some 116 Metro Mass Transit (MMT) buses.

Mrs. Bawumia said despite the saga they continue to waste taxpayer’s money on giant bill boards and other party paraphernalia across the country.

“NDC used millions of our monies on bus branding. Ghanaians wailed and advised the NDC to withdraw the contract but they didn’t heed to the advice. Currently, NDC flags and Mahama’s billboards all over, they’ve branded every part of Ghana with Mahama’s posters,” she added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post ‘We see you, we see corruption’ – Samira Bawumia to NDC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Whereas the NDC launched the campaign of its Tema Central parliamentary candidate, Ebi Bright, at Tema Community 7, the NPP on the other hand launched its Greater Accra Regional Campaign at Community 1, in the Tema East constituency.

Citi News’ Elvis Washington reported that the NDC’s Tema Central campaign launch was graced by its National Chairman, Kofi Portuphy, Meropolitan Chief Executive for Tema, Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Ade Coker as well as other executives of the party.

On the other side, the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, Sheikh IC Quaye and other party bigwigs graced the NPP’s Regional campaign launch.

The party’s parliamentary candidates in the Region were also outdoored at the event.

NPP Greater Accra Regional Campaign launch in Tema East constituency

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

Photos by: Elvis Washington

The post NDC, NPP launch campaign in Tema [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.