[ 2014-10-22 ]

NDC scraps controversial clause from constitution
The numerous court injunctions that have plagued
the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has
compelled it to remove a controversial clause from
the party’s election guidelines.

The clause stipulates that members of the party
who wished to contest a regional position must
have held an executive position in the
constituency before.

The NDC was forced to postpone its National
Delegates Congress which was scheduled for October
25, because of the several court actions
challenging the unlawful disqualification of some
candidates contesting various positions in the
party.

According to the party, the particular clause has
caused dissatisfaction among some of its members,
thereby leading to the numerous court actions.

The National Executive Committee of the NDC after
a meeting on Tuesday has removed the clause after
agitations from aggrieved party members.

Speaking to Citi News, the General Secretary of
the party Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the review is
in compliance with an order by a Kumasi High Court
to resolve a case brought against them by a member
of the party, out of court.

He explained that the NEC drafted the guidelines
for the election and directed the national
secretariat of the party to implement and
interpret it.

He said; “out of disagreements emanating from
sections of the guidelines, some members of the
party decided to go to court challenging the
constitutionality of sections of the guidelines
and in particular, almost all the court cases were
challenging the constitutionality of the rule.”

“This has attracted majority of the challenges
in court. The learned judge in the Kumasi high
court case suggested that the party should take
steps to try and deal with the issue
internally,” he added.


According to Asiedu Nketia, the party after the
removal of the clause will re-open nominations at
the regional level for five days to allow for
others who were otherwise disqualified from
contesting to also file their nomination.

He further added that the decision will be
implemented only after the court case has been
dealt with.

“But having said that I need to draw the
attention of party members across the country that
we are a democratic party and we submit to the
rule of law and so once there is a matter pending
in court which has attracted an injunction, any
step that will be taken towards re-opening of
nomination or anything at all about the election
will constitute contempt of the court. We will
proceed to handle the court matters and once we
are able to resolve the matter and the court has
agreed and the injunction has been removed then we
can proceed to implement these decisions,” he
indicated.

Source - Citifmonline

... go Back