Court injunction puts off VR House of Chiefs election

Pandemonium broke out at a meeting of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs in Ho, when Electoral officers from the Volta Regional Electoral Office informed the House about a court injunction restraining the EC from organizing the elections. Disappointment was visible on the faces of many of the chiefs, especially those who had travelled from afar, across the length and breadth of the Region to elect a President, Vice President and five representatives of the House to the National Council of Chiefs on hearing the news of the court injunction. Mr Selormey Dogbe, Deputy Volta Regional Electoral Officer, who was in the House to supervise the elections informed members about the injunction filed by one Eddie Tetteh of Sakumono, on September 27, this year, which sought to restrain the Attorney General and the Electoral Commission from conducting any elections of the National House of Chiefs until the final determination and explanation of the Chieftaincy Act. He said Mr Tetteh claimed that "sections 89 2(b) and 89 (b) of the Chieftaincy Act, 1971 Act 371 were inconsistent with and in contravention of the letter and spirit of the 1992 Constitution, specifically Article 66 (1) and are accordingly null and void and of no effect". Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli Traditional Area described the turn of events as a shame and questioned why the EC delayed in passing the information on to members in time to prevent the unnecessary waste of man-hours and money and creating pointless suspense. Togbega Gabusu VI, President of the House denied prior knowledge of the court injunction and said he would inform the National House of Chiefs about the development. Earlier, Togbe Kwesi Drah of Anfoeta, Togbe Kwami Dogli II, Ave-Dzalele and Togbe Kwesi Akpasu VIII of Hodzo had taken the oath of membership of the House under heavy police surveillance. Information gathered by the GNA indicated that Togbe Afede XIV and Nana Besemura, Krachiwura were due to contest for President of the House, while Nana Soglo Allo IV, Paramount Chief of Likpe Traditional area was to stand for Vice President unopposed.