Two officers of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) have in separate petitions to the party hierarchy, have kicked against the nomination and candidature of Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah for the position of General Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer of the party.
The aspirant, the petitioners argued, does not qualify to run for that high office because per the CPP Constitution, she requires at least four years of membership to qualify.
According to them, the aspirant’s maximum years of service to party falls short of the four years required to qualify a candidate to contest the position of General Secretary.
The petitioners, Ebenezer Arthur-Kane of Ablekuma West Constituency and Wisdom Sena Agoha, referred to Article 80 of the CPP Constitution, which sets out the requirements for contesting position at the national level to buttress their point.
They have expressed their willingness to appear in person before the Vetting Committee to substantiate the contents of the petition and to be cross-examined by those against whom the petition is made.
Both quoted among others, particularly Article 80 (a) 1, which states that “Candidates must hold a party membership card for four (4) years or more.”
One of the petitioners added “That this provision constitutes a perpetual injunction against any member who is less than four (4) years in the Party from pursuing any national office except and/or unless there is an exercise of exemption following due process also specified in Article 80 (d) and (e) of the Party Constitution.”
“It is my belief, and I hold same to be true that the membership of Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah is less than one (1) year in the Party, thus disqualifying her from holding National Office. She is even not qualified for Constituency or Regional Office.”
The two petitioners also drew the attention of the Vetting Committee that Nana Yaa Jantuah is still a subject of BNI investigation following some issues of financial and administrative impropriety alleged by Union Staff of PURC where she served as and resigned as an executive in 2017.
The office of General Secretary, the petitioners stressed, is a revered and pivotal position in coordinating the affairs of the Party and synonymous to a Member of Parliament per Article 95 of the Party Constitution, and therefore persons considered for that office must be above reproach.
“I, therefore, pray that the member be disqualified from contesting the position of General Secretary,” one of the petitioners said.
