Court acquits eight executive members of CPP

An Accra Fast Track High Court has acquitted eight executive members of the Convention People's Party (CPP) of a charge of contempt filed by a group of seven people, a section within the party. The application is in respect of a court order to retrieve party vehicles in the possession of Mr. George Aggudey, the Flagbearer of the Party in 2004 elections and other persons, and thereafter brand them as custom demands, with party name, motto, colour and the party emblem of the red cockrel. It also sought the punishment of the court for the defendants for allegedly not reserving eight executive positions to be filled. The eight defendants are Dr Edmund Delle, Araba Bentsi Enchill, Johnny Hansen, Prof Nii Noi Dowuona, Martin Donkor, Riley Poku, B K Senkyirey and Kwasi Pratt Jnr. The plaintiffs are Nana Kwaku Dumfeh, Osei Tano, Kofi Aganu Luvo, Kwadwo Aduamoah, Amanka Appiah, Francis Opai Tetteh, and Atta Essiam. The Court, presided over by Mr Justice P K Gyaesayor ruled that the application was premature and absolved the defendants of the contempt application brought against them. The court in its ruling observed that the orders in a earlier settlement, under Mr K S P Jantuah were not implemented and the plaintiffs brought the application seeking the imprisonment of the defendants. The Court observed that the application was not seeking the enforcement of the judgement, but punishment of the defendants for disobeying the court and it was the duty of the plaintiffs to show beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants deliberately refused a court order. With regards to the eight places to which the plaintiffs were entitled to in the task force, the courts ruled that an affidavit indicated that eight places had been reserved for nominees of the plaintiffs' applicants. The court said this indicated the attempts to comply with the terms of settlement and it was now the duty of the plaintiffs to fill the eight places by submitting their names to the party. It therefore did not find the defendants disobedient and did not hold them liable. GNA