Mr. Divine Fiakpui-Dzahini, who is contesting the position of a Vice Chairman for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta region has been cleared by an appeals committee to contest the elections having been disqualified earlier at vetting.
The businessman man was disqualified by a vetting committee led by a former Minister of State, Mad. Sherry Ayittey when he appeared before the committee on Monday, 10 October, 2022 at the party’s regional office in Ho.
His disqualification followed a petition filed against his candidature by Gershon Adukpo, a branch executive from Ho West.
The petitioner who hails from the same constituency as the aspirant, averred that the later was not an active member of the party [NDC] in the region last four years as required by regulation 2.1(ii) of the party’s guidelines and regulations for the election of regional executives which talks about the eligibility of an aspirant.
According to regulation 2.1(ii) to qualify to contest elections at the regional level, the aspirant “must be an active Member in the last four (4) years in a Constituency onstituency within the Region,” amongst other eligibility requirements.
But in an appeal filed by Mr. Fiakpui-Dzahini disagreed with the interpretation of regulation 2.1(ii) by the vetting committee.
He argued that, “I supported the party and have been a Patron as well as a member of the Constituency Youth Working Committee of Ho West since 2018 and was very instrumental in the campaign leading to the 2020 elections.”
“I adopted 20 branches in the constituency in the last general elections. I was also a member of the Ho West Constituency 2020 election campaign team. I did all these even though I did my membership registration in Adenta,” he added.
He also stated that, until he filed to contest the regional elections, he was a branch chairman.
He argued further that, “Article 2.1(ii) of the guidelines which was referred to Madam Sherry Ayittey was misinterpreted here or misapplied. Since so far as I know, we have one party and active service to the party in any part of the country amounts to active membership in that part of the country. In any case, I consider myself qualified because I am a fully paid up member of the party and therefore, my membership is not in doubts.”
His argument was further supported with a letter from Functional Executive Committee of the party in the region.
The letter signed by the Regional Chairman, Henry Kwadzo Ametepe to the National Appeals Committee affirmed without equivocation Mr. Fiakpui-Dzahini’s activeness in the party and its activities in the region in the last four years.
His appeal was subsequently upheld giving him clearance to contest the elections.
Mr. Divine Fiakpui-Dzahini is contesting four other persons for the position of a Vice Chairman for the NDC.
His contenders include Mr. Egypt Kudoto, a former Regional Youth Organiser of the party, Mr. John Tumaku, a lecturer at the Ho Technical University and Mr. Manfred Nuku Dei and Mad. Bridget Simpi Yaa Yvette.
Divine Fiakpui-Dzahini who holds MSc. Microfinance from the University of Cape Coast and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Wisconsin International University College is a known financier of the party.
He served the party in various roles at the branch level.
Elliot Wogbe, an aspirant for the position of Deputy Regional Organiser who was also disqualified on similar grounds have also been cleared to contest the elections.
The regional elections are expected to be held on Saturday, 12 November, 2020.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu
