Court Decides On NPP Today

Mike Ocquaye
An Accra Fast Track High Court will today decide on the application before it seeking to prevent the New Patriotic Party's Super Delegates' Congress slated for Sunday.

David Hoezame, a member of the party, had sued the NPP seeking a judicial order to restrain the NPP from holding its internal elections.

The congress will be used to reduce the number of aspirants seeking to lead the party in the run-up to the 2016 presidential elections, from seven to five.

The application of Mr. Hoezame, former constituency chairman in Central Tongu in the Volta Region, was originally adjourned to September 2, 2014 by the court for the NPP and its National Chairman, Paul Afoko, to file their affidavit in opposition.

However, the NPP said the court should give expeditious hearing to the interim injunction application filed by Hoezame in the name of justice.

At its sitting yesterday, the court, presided over by Justice K.A. Ofori Atta, granted an application from lawyers of the NPP, praying the court to hear Mr. Hoezame's application for interim injunction and determine same before Sunday—when the NPP holds its Super Delegates' Congress.

Speaking to Citi FM, a lawyer for the NPP, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who is acting for the NPP Legal and Constitutional Committee headed by Prof Mike Oquaye, said, 'We are in court because the original application for interim injunction filed by Mr. Hoezame had been fixed for hearing on September 2, 2014 and we feel like clearly, it will not accord with justice and fairness if the application is heard on that day, because clearly the date postdates the date that has been fixed by the NPP for its Special Delegates' Conference.'

Lawyer Dame explained that 'It will be proper for the party to know clearly whether it can proceed with the congress before it proceeds to do so; and that can only be done if the application for interim injunction filed by Hozeame is heard and determined before 31 August.'

He said the court had agreed to adjourn the matter to today for hearing.

He expressed the hope that the 'Court will proceed to not only affirm the election of the National Council, but of course, sanction the holding of the Super Delegates' Conference.'

The court had earlier thrown out the plaintiff from trying to restrain the party from vetting its seven aspirants for the Congress.

Justice P. Ofori-Atta dismissed the application on the grounds that the plaintiff failed to disclose to the court what specific right of his would be infringed if the application was refused.

The trial judge was of the view that on the grounds of the balance of convenience, Hoezame had failed to show the court that the balance was in his favour, and also did not show the court what specific right of his would be abused if the court refused him.

In his affidavit in support of the motion, filed by Oak and Wuuds Law Chambers in Accra on July 23, 2014, Hoezame averred that the action sinned against the Constitution of the party as there was no notice of polls, nor submission of names of candidates to serve on the National Council, which is mandated to direct the affairs of the party.

The plaintiff, who said he had wanted to contest the election to serve on the Council, indicated that certain members were just handpicked as regional representatives which contravened the party's Constitution.

Aspirants
The seven aspirants contesting for the flagbearership position of the NPP are Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, two-time presidential candidate; Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman West, Stephen Asamoah Boateng; incumbent MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh; MP for Essikado-Ketan, who doubles as 2 nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Ghartey; MP for Asuogyaman, Kofi Osei Ameyaw and former MP for Offinso North, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku.

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By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson