Assembly Member Sues 2 Officials

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, 13 February 2007
A member of the Kassena Nankana District Assembly in the Upper East Region has initiated contempt proceedings against the district co-ordinating director and the presiding member of the assembly at the Bolgatanga High Court over the election of the presiding member.

Daniel Kansaki, who represents Balobia Electoral Area, claims that the defendants had written letters to invite members of the assembly for the swearing-in of Mr. Sylvester Amoah as the presiding member even though his election was being challenged at the High Court.

Mr. Kansaki filed the suit to restrain Mr. Amoah from holding himself as the presiding member because the membership of the assembly exceeds the 30 per cent of government appointees, as stipulated by law.

He is seeking the court’s order for a declaration that the election of Mr. Amoah is null and void since the assembly was not properly constituted for the election in a presiding member.

In an affidavit in support of the suit, Mr. Kansaki said the respondents had been served with the processes that seek to restrain them from swearing in the presiding member.

He said the respondents filed a defence to contest the case which has been fixed for hearing on Thursday, February 15.

"In the meantime the respondents have conducted themselves in ways that show that they have no regard for the processes of this court and that conduct has sought to interfere with and prejudice the determination of this case and bring the administration of justice into disrepute," Mr. Kansaki argued.

He said Mr. Amoah attended the New Year School of the Institute of Adult Education at Legon in January, 2007 and held himself as the presiding member of the district while the co-ordinating director on January 17, also wrote letters to the various assembly members inviting them to attend the swearing-in of Mr. Amoah despite the pendency of the application.

"The conduct of the respondents is in contempt of this court and they ought to be punished," he said.