The much-anticipated Ashanti Regional elections of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) have been suspended following a court injunction filed against the incumbent chairman, Somalia Boakye.
Speaking to Oyerepa News, the Regional Vice Chairman of the GPRTU, Mr. Samuel Addae, confirmed that the decision to postpone the elections came after legal action was taken by some members of the union.
“I had a call from my NRO yesterday around 4 PM that a court injunction has been placed on our Regional GPRTU Chairman, Somalia Boakye, to stop contesting in the elections,” Mr. Addae revealed.
According to him, three members of the Takoradi-Elubo branch of the GPRTU petitioned the court, alleging that Mr. Boakye had failed to render proper accounts to them. The petition prompted the court to issue an injunction preventing him from taking part in the elections until the matter is resolved.
In response, the leadership of the GPRTU, in collaboration with officials from the Labour Commission and the Divisional Police Command, decided that the most prudent action was to suspend the elections entirely.
“Our leaders from the National and Labour Commission, together with the Divisional Police Command, saw it necessary to postpone the elections.”
“We have urged Somalia to go to court and respond to the allegations against him. Once that is resolved, we will proceed with the elections,” Mr. Addae explained.
He further noted that it would be unfair to conduct the elections, excluding one candidate and then organise a separate election for him at a later time.
The election was set to see two candidates vying for the position of Ashanti Regional GPRTU Chairman: the incumbent, Somalia Boakye, and his challenger, Nana Kwame Afriyie.
The union has not yet announced a new date for the elections, as the matter remains pending in court.
Oyerepafmonline.com/Joseph Marfo
