The Electoral Commission, four executives of Amasaman Constituency of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been cited for contempt of court following the holding of the Constituency Parliamentary Primaries on December 15, 2019 despite a court injunction restraining them for doing so.
A copy of the contempt writ sighted by Awake News stated that one “Rockson Adu Boahene filed an interlocutory injunction application against the Respondents on 27th September, 2019 restraining the Respondents from conducting the constituency primaries election until the final determination of the suit.” for which the Court “adjourned the hearing of the interlocutory injunction as well as the substantive case to 14th January, 2020.”
“That the Respondents regardless of the adjournment of the hearing of the interlocutory injunction application and the substantive matter before the Honourable Court went ahead to conduct the constituency primaries election on 15th December, 2019.”
The contempt has been brought against, Michael Ofori Asante, the Constituency Chairman; Samuel Aquah-Young, the Constituency Secretary; Nii Obodai Sai, the Constituency Elections Committee Chairman and the Electoral Commission.
The contempt as filed by one Isaac Owusu Ansah said the “Respondents’ willful disobedience of the Court by holding the constituency primaries election while the interlocutory injunction application and the substantive matter was pending before the Honourable Court for hearing amount to the offence of Contempt of this Honourable Court.”
Background:
NPP delegates in the Amasaman Constituency, who were supposed to elect a parliamentary candidate Saturday, September 28, 2019 have got themselves disappointed when a disqualified candidate, Rockson Adu Boahen placed injunction of the election granted by an Accra Human Rights High Court, on September 27.
The delegates who had converged at the Amasaman M/A School Park to cast their votes said they least expected any hitches in the elections, especially a suspension of the whole process barely few hours to the commencement.
“It is very disheartening that having gone through electioneering for three months only to be served last minute, less than 6 hours before the voting is something unheard of. NPP we are not noted for such things. If there should be any injunction it should have been brought earlier for us to consider it, but for us to come here only to be told there is an injunction is not acceptable. Whoever did that will have a lot to answer to us, the delegates.” A very displeased delegate lamented.
Others who had to abandon various engagements also expressed their disappointment in the development which has affected their plans.
“we are really disappointed, I travelled to Kumasi. I had to drive all the way from Kumasi yesterday night to come and vote. See the situation now, I lost my sister. I had to be in Kumasi by now. It is rather unfortunate that there is an injunction on the election.”
A delegate who described Mr Adu Boahen as a role model to many of the constituents said he expected better from him, considering his role and the level of division that seems to be appearing in the constituency.
“We thought by the close of the day the election will be over so that we can go back to patching up the broken pieces. But as it stands now we are going back to the campaign and division that is almost bringing its head into the constituency. We least expected the person who brought the injunction on the party. Because he has lived in the constituency for long and we see him as a role model. He could have done it earlier so that they could have solved whatever the issue is.” Another equally disappointed delegate said.
Amasaman is part of the New Patriotic Party’s orphan constituencies which are supposed to elect parliamentary candidates for the 2020 general elections today.
But this morning as constituency executives and officials of the Electoral Commission were setting up for the elections, a notification of injunction was served to the party by Mr Rocskon Adu Boahen, who was disqualified during vetting from contesting.
The last minute injunction meant the party had to suspend the election pending the determination of the High Court on the disqualification of Mr Adu Boahen.
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com