The Agona Swedru High Court has fixed October 30, 2020 to determine whether the proposed agreement between Agona East Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr. Maxwell Oko OKai to settle the matter over his disqualification from contesting the Parliamentary primaries scheduled to be held on Saturday August 24, 2019.
Mr. Joseph Esua Tekyi, Counsel for Mr. Oko OKai said that on Monday 12th October they came to announce to the court that they have agreed to settle the matter one month ago by the parties.
He told the court presided over by Justice Janet Anima Marfo that parties were at the court to tell terms of settlement of all issues that NDC had offered to the plaintiff after meeting had been held by legal team of the party in Accra.
The Counsel for the plaintiff said the NDC party should have been told the court that they wanted to settle the matter by October 30, 2020 but it turns out to be different ball game.
Mr Maxwell Oko Okai has filed the suit at Agona Swedru High Court against Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Chairman NDC, Mr E.k. T. Addo, Central Regional Chairman, Mr Francis Baidoo, Agona East Constituency Chairman, Mr Kweku Arkoh, Agona East NDC Electoral Director and Electoral Commission(EC) to restraint them for holding Parliamentary primaries in Agona East to select Parliamentary candidate for December, 7 polls.
The suit followed, disqualification of Mr. Oko OKai to contest the Parliamentary primaries after attended vetting in Cape Coast constituted both Regional and National executives of the NDC.
He said it is expected that by 30 October, 2020 the plaintiff will raise some agreed issues by the defendant over the inability on the party of NDC to settle matter amicably by the two parties.
According to the counsel for the Plaintiff, the legal team wopulfd look at the matter and respond appropriately because some agreed issues made by the two parties have been flouted.
The counsel for the plaintiff hinted that there have been efforts got the matter to settle between two parties to enable the plaintiff to file discontinued of the case.
According to the Lawyer Tekyi, council for the plaintiff meeting has been held at the headquarters of NDC with the party’s legal team with most senior lawyers to see to the settlement of the matter but it has proved futile.
The Counsel for Plaintiff said the meeting at the headquarters of NDC in Accra , the national Chairman of the party Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo with some guru supporters to discuss the issue to find lasting solution to the matter.
He said upon sober reflection the plaintiff agreed based on some agreed terms, adding that one such terms was that the party (NDC) will publicly come to withdraw any allegations of fraudulent against Mr Oko Okai prior to the parliamentary primaries in August last year.
Mr Atokwei Quaye , lead counsel for NDC prayed the court to adjourn the case to November 5, 2020 but the court objected to the date and fixed on October 30, 2020.
The said Court if by the close of the adjourned date the parties have not been able to settle the matter by the NDC, there would be no option than to deliver verdict whether the case be continued or dismissed.
