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18.04.2015 NPP

NPP Contempt Case Thrown Out

By Daily Guide
NPP Contempt Case Thrown Out
18.04.2015 LISTEN

An Accra High court yesterday struck out the contempt suit brought against some top officials of the opposition new Patriotic Party (NPP).

The move follows an agreement by the parties in the matter for an amicable out-of-court settlement.

Three members of the NPP-Kwame Owusu Ansah, Sarpong Kumankuma and Anthony Gyamfi Ameyaw sued the party's Chairman and General Secretary Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong for contempt for failing to re-run elections in the Juaben, Kumawu and Manhyia North constituencies in the Ashanti region as directed by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed an application for certiorari brought by the NPP Kumawu chairman, Joseph Danso to challenge the settlement reached between the party and its members in the three constituencies.

The plaintiffs went to court following the party's failure to adhere to an amicable agreement the two parties reached that resulted in a consent judgment in August, 2014.

The plaintiffs prayed the court to declare as illegal a statement by the NPP's General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong that asked interested persons to pick forms as part of nationwide parliamentary primaries.

The 23 March 2015 announcement by the Mr Agyapong, they argued, disregarded the High Court ruling in Juaben, Kumawu and Manhyia constituencies.

The plaintiffs were of the view that the party blatantly disregarded the court ruling by announcing parliamentary primaries.

During the hearing of the case in a court, presided over by Justice Kwabena Asuman-Adu, lawyers for both parties reiterated their earlier request to the court for an out-of-court settlement.

Yoni Kulendi, lawyer for the NPP, pleaded with the court to grant the request.

He had earlier told the court that the dispute was between 'family' members and should therefore be resolved out of court.

Garry Nimako Marfo, lawyer for the applicants, shared a similar view.

The trial judge accordingly struck out the case and cautioned radio commentators to be mindful of their comments in relation to the case.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
[email protected]

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