NPP Chairman Thrown Out

The Supreme Court yesterday unanimously dismissed an application for certiorari brought by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kumawu chairman, Joseph Danso, against the settlement reached between the party and its members at Kumawu, Juabeng and Manhyia North constituencies.

The five-member panel presided over by Justice Sophia Akuffo noted that settlement reached at the High Court over the internal election issues in the three constituencies, which led to an order for a re-run of the NPP internal elections, was lawful.

The judgment which was read by Justice Sule Gbadegbe also said that the applicant as an officer of the NPP could not go contrary to what the Party had settled.

According to the judges, the chairman, having benefitted from the consent judgment at the High Court which allowed him to vote in the presidential and parliamentary elections, could not approbate and reprobate at   same time. The application was consequently dismissed.

Furthermore,  a cost of GH¢200 was awarded against the party chairman who  took the settlement to the Supreme Court on grounds that the consent settlement, which included a re-run of the internal elections  in the three constituencies, would affect him adversely.

Three members of the party—Kwame Owusu Ansah, First Vice Chairman of the party at Kumawu, Sarpong Kumankuma Former First Chairman of the party at Juabeng and Anthony Gyamfi Ameyaw Manhyia North Constituency the action to the High Court over the way the internal party elections were held in at the polling station level to the constituency level in the three constituencies.

Lawyers for the applicant were Asiedu Basoah and Ms Elizabeth Hassan while Dr. Poku Adusei and Gary Nimako Marfo  were there for the three party members.

Mr, Anthony Dabi was there for Electoral Commision.

Other Justice on the case included Justices Vida Akoto Bamfo and J. Benin.

By Fidelia Achama