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GAA abortive elective congress…Haldane-Lutterodt’s nomination under scrutiny

The nomination and endorsement of a former Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) President, Mr. George Haldane-Lutterodt, to contest for the same position in the association’s abortive elective congress has come under scrutiny over calls to investigate the process and cancel his candidature.

Ahead of the association’s 3rd Quadrennial Elective Congress originally scheduled for December 2018, Mr. Haldane-Lutterodt was nominated by the Ghana Athletics Coaches Association (GACA) on November 2, 2018 to contest for the position of presidency.

A letter to that effect signed by the GACA President, Mr. Anselm Nyavedzi and sighted by the Ghanaian Times further sought to endorse Mr Haldane-Lutterodt’s candidature.

But aggrieved members of GACA have challenged the process which they described as illegal, adding that the decision to nominate and endorse the former GAA boss was unilateral.

According to the aggrieved members, the decision to nominate and endorse Mr Haldane-Lutterodt was unilateral because the association never met to discuss it and that represent the choice of the president.

The members see it as a clear violation of the GAA’s constitution on membership which is by representation and not individuals.

It stated “we concerned members of the Ghana Athletics Coaches Association, have received disturbing news that our President – Mr. Anselm Nyavedzi has nominated and endorsed the nomination form of a person who is not a member of our association to contest for an executive committee position in the aborted GAA elections which was slated for 15-12-2018 in Tamale.”

“We therefore petition the office to investigate the matter and withdraw the candidature of any such person if the allegation turns out to be true. Our reason is that such conduct offends Article 3 of the constitution of the Ghana Athletics Coaches Association and Article 15.1.d of the constitution of the Ghana Athletics Association.”

When contacted yesterday, Mr Nyavedzi confirmed endorsing the candidature of Mr. Haldane-Lutterodt but sees no illegality about it, saying, “I have the power to endorse him; I need no consultation to do that.”

The letter from the aggrieved coaches petitioning the GAA to investigate the process for the nomination and endorsement was signed by the GACA vice chairman, John Ali Atia and 10 other members.

They include Christopher Darko-Amankrah, Saibu Yahaya Sulemana, Samuel Aryeh, Salamatu Yusif, Gerald Cudjoe, Lawrence Asiedu, Georgina Sowah, Sylvester Amesikenu Martin, Andrew Asamoah Asante and Baba Apidogo.

A GAA source have confirmed receipt of the petition and is set to launch investigation on the matter and additional infractions recorded on nomination forms submitted by candidates. 

BY ANDREW NORTEY

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