The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has threatened to seek a court injunction to restrain the newly elected leadership of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) from holding themselves out as legitimate executives, if their concerns over the recent GUTA elections are not addressed.
The threat follows allegations that the elections, conducted about three weeks ago, were riddled with irregularities and failed to comply with provisions of GUTA’s constitution.
According to the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, several constituent associations that form part of GUTA were neither consulted nor given the opportunity to endorse candidates before the elections, a requirement they say was ignored by the GUTA leadership.
Speaking on Happy 98.9 FM’s Happy Morning Show with host Fati Shaibu-Ali, the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Takyi Addo, said many member associations did not participate in the process and do not recognise the outcome of the elections.
Mr. Addo explained that currently GUTA has no representative from the Abossey Okai Spare parts Dealers Association, raising concerns about how the association is expected to communicate GUTA decisions and policies to members without proper representation at the national level.
He disclosed that the Association formally wrote to GUTA ahead of the elections to register its objections, but GUTA leadership proceeded with the polls without addressing their concerns.
As a result, Mr. Addo said the Association is considering legal action to prevent the newly elected executives from presenting themselves as legitimate leaders of GUTA until the alleged breaches are resolved.
He further criticised what he described as the “recycling” of leadership within GUTA, noting that the newly elected president previously served as first vice president, while the current first vice president was formerly the association’s PRO. He argued that such a trend stifles growth and undermines internal democracy.
Mr. Addo warned the current GUTA leadership against what he described as arrogance and disregard for dissenting voices, cautioning that such conduct could weaken the association if not corrected.
