Bolgatanga High Court Judge throws out suit

Bolgatanga, May 6, GNA - A Bolgatanga High Court Judge, Justice Alaji Mohammed Mustapha, has thrown out a suit brought against the Upper East Regional Executives of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on legal and technical grounds.

The suit was filed on August 8, 2012 by aggrieved members of the Union including Mr Mahama Baba Abugre, Mr Mohammed Alangre, Mr Abuba Salifu and Mr Emmanuel Anaba.

The defendant was Mr Godfred Abulbire, Regional Chairman of the Union.

In the suit, the plaintiffs contended among others things that the Regional Executives breached the Union's Constitution in 2010 and 2011 and failed to hold Annual General Meetings as demanded by the Constitution.

Consequently, they prayed the Court, among other reliefs they sought that the Regional Chairman, Mr Abulbire be ordered to step aside for an Interim Management Committee to take over.

In an addition they prayed the Court to ban Mr Abulbire, from contesting subsequent elections of the Union.

The defendant denied all the allegations during the legal tussle that lasted three years.

Presiding over the case, Justice Mohammed cited several other similar other cases that were upheld by the Supreme Court of Ghana.

The Constitution of the GPRTU, he noted, provides that an aggrieved member of the Union should first petition the mother Union and if dissatisfied with their decision, could appeal to the Executive Council and up to the Trades Union Congress.

It is only after all these interventions have failed to satisfy the aggrieved person that he could turn to the law courts as last resort.

He, therefore, threw out the suit on the grounds that he considered the Plaintiffs actors as premature.

GNA