Lutterodt, 14 others put injunction on GAA elections

A presidential aspirant in the upcoming Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) elections scheduled for Tamale on Saturday and 14 others have jointly placed an injunction on the polls, citing irregularities and seeking some reliefs.

Mr George Haldane-Lutterodt, the lead plaintiff and the 14 others are praying the court to declare the December 15 elections as improper, injunct the defendants — Professor Francis Dodoo, Mr Bawah Fuseini, the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) — from holding the elections and appoint an interim committee to administer the GAA in preparation for congress and elections.

The 14 other plaintiffs are Prince Worth Anane, Anselm Nyavedzi, Randy Randolph, George Doe and Isaac Lamptey.

The rest are Albert Nukpezah, Angelina Ocean, Dr Anthony Adjei Tetteh-Opai, Kweku Nimako, Professor Charles Yeneona-Yendork, Boniface Boinde, Margo Mickson Somuah, Ayishetu Mitchell and Edwin Ranford.

Among the reliefs being sought by the plaintiffs prayed the court to postpone congress and a new date fixed by an interim committee, as well as order the Youth and Sports Ministry, the NSA and the GOC to appoint an interim committee to manage the affairs of the GAA, until a congress and election of new executive members are held.

The writ, filed at an Accra High Court on December 10, stated that Mr Lutterodt was a contestant, while the second to 15 plaintiffs were stakeholders with various positions in Ghana athletics.

In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs averred that the term of office of every chairman of the GAA and executive board was four years as per the GAA constitution.

The statement of claim also said the first defendant, Professor Dodoo's term as the president of the GAA had expired, while prior to elections, a congress was usually organised where decisions were taken towards the organisation of the elections.