Mmrantie Association
Byelaws
MAL0001: 10-14-00 Nominations of Interim Executives.
Provision: Four people were nominated as acting executives until such a time that permanent executives shall be elected.
Dan Brobby- Acting President/Organizer
Jonathan Poku- Acting Speaker
Edward Owusu- Acting Financial Secretary/Secretary
John Owusu Adum- Acting Patron.
Mode: Popular consensus
MAL0002: 10-14-00 Exclusion of Women.
Provision: No woman shall be member of Mmrantie Association until such a time that this law is repealed.
Mode: Vote of 19 against 10 for exclusion of women.
MAL0003: 10-14-00 When Meetings should be held.
Provision: Meetings shall be held every two weeks until the end of the year, which it will revert to the provision of the constitution.
Mode: Vote of 11 for every two weeks against 2 for three weeks and 1 for four weeks.
MAL0004: 11-11-00 Order of Talking
Provision: Every member shall have the right to talk for one minute when he raises his hand and he is called upon by the Speaker.
Mode: Suggested by Nana Nsiah, seconded by E. Owusu and voted by popular consensus
MAL0005: 11-11-00 Vote able Arguments
Provision: Every suggestion is subject to debate and when seconded becomes a motion and when voted for becomes a byelaw.
Mode: Suggested by interim executives and voted for by popular consensus.
MAL0006: 11-11-00 Promulgation of Constitution
Provision: The Constitution of Mmrantie Association is the fundamental law of the association.
Mode: Suggested by interim executives and voted for by popular consensus.
MAL0007: 11-11-00 Registration Fee and Dues.
Provision: Every person shall pay a registration fee of fifty dollars before you become a member. Those who have been attending meetings before and after this byelaw are given up till the end of this year and an additional grace period up to February 11, 2001, for those who will start attending meetings after December 31, 2000. The latter will not be able to participate in discussion or vote until such registration fee is paid in full.
Registration fee of seventy-five dollars will be levied for those who register after February 10, 2001.
Registration fee is refundable only upon written request from a member to resign from the association. The refund is also subject to monthly dues and donations owed.
In addition every member shall pay monthly dues of ten dollars starting December 2000. Monthly dues are not refundable.
Mode: Suggested by Nana Nsiah, seconded by Prempeh, and voted for by majority of 12 against 5.
MAL0008: 12-16-00 Freezing of Accounts
Provision: The funds of the association shall be frozen for a period not less than one year. In case of emergency in helping a member, it is going to be fifty dollars per member depending on the size and magnitude of the case.
Help is going to be based solely on membership until such a time this law is repealed.
The criteria for helping a member are based on self, children, wife, mother and father.
Mode: Suggested and seconded by executives and voted by popular consensus.
MAEI0001: 08-25-02 Clarification of Mother, Father, Child and Wife
Provision: In pursuance of MAL0008, father, mother and child should be biological or legal(for adoption). Wife should be a legal one.
MAL0009: 12-16-00 Association Accounts.
Provision: The account of the association is vested in the four interim executives until such a time the association becomes legally registered.
Mode: Suggested by Fred, seconded by executives and voted by popular consensus.
MAL0010: 01-27-01 Patronship.
Provision: No patron shall pay dues.
Existing ordinary members automatically become patrons after fifty years.
Mode: On agenda and approved by popular consensus.
MAL0011: 01-27-01 Pre-existing Cases.
Provision: All cases before the 31st December deadline are considered pre-existing and as such, the association is relieved of that burden.
Mode: On agenda and approved by popular consensus.
MAL0012: 01-27-01 Benefits Schedule.
Provision: All those who registered before the 31st December deadline are eligible for benefits from 1st January, 2001 but those who registered after the deadline will have three months waiting period.
Mode: On agenda and decided on a vote of 10 against 6 in favor of the motion.
MAL0013: 01-27-01 Constitutional Provisions.
Provision: The constitutions of the provision shall remain intact until such a time that it becomes necessary to amend beyond all reasonable doubts. Failing that one-year should elapse before any constitutional amendment can be made.
Mode: Suggested by Steve Kwarteng, seconded by E. Owusu. Decided on a majority vote of 17 against 3.
MAL0014: 04-28-01 Bounced checks
Provision: Members are responsible for bounced checks. Thus, if a check is bounced or not cleared, the drawer will pay the required fee and be held liable for any consequences that follow.
Mode: Suggested by executives and approved by popular consensus
MAL0015: 04-28-01 Petty cash account
Provision: Due to increase in printing and the use of other stationeries, it was agreed that a petty cash account be set up for such expenses. Mr. Steve Kwarteng also volunteered to supply some stationery for the association.
Mode: On agenda and approved by popular consensus.
MAL0016: 04-28-01 Donation Fund
Provision: Each member shall contribute $50.00 towards the donation fund. When there are enough funds, the money will be used as donation when there is the need. However, members shall contribute to reach the required amount when there are insufficient funds in the Fund.
The Fund described above will be used as contributions towards the following:
Death/Funeral of a “qualified” relative – Member is entitled to $1500.00.
Birth/Outdooring – Member is entitled to $700.00.
MAEI0002:11-16-02 : The payment of donation should conform to the general practices of the Ghanaian community. Members should also bear in mind that our club is an association not an insurance company, hence donation instead of claim.
Mode: On agenda, and approved by majority vote.
MAL0017: 04-28-01 Contribution toward member’s death
Provision: When a member is dead, a lump sum of $5,000.00 will be given to the deceased’s family. Members shall contribute $100.00 each, towards the donation.
MAEI0003: 10/02: Due to the current hardships of the association and members, the association will organize a an internal fund raising and if the proceeds fall short of the required amount, the association will come up with the difference and if it exceeds the required amount the difference will go to the association’s account.
MAL0018: 04-28-01 Information/Notices
Provision: Any information/notices to Mmrantie Kuo should be in a form of written, before an action could be taken.
MAL0019: 04-28-01 Circulation letters
Provision: From time to time, letters will be sent out to members in arrears of any kind of payments. A maximum of two letters will be sent out to members under this category. No support shall be provided to these members until all the necessary payments are made.
MAL0020: 04-28-01 Refreshment fund *
Provision: A refreshment fund was established, starting with a payment of $10.00 by each member for a period of every three months. These funds will be used for refreshments at each general meeting.
MAL0021: 05-19-01 Donation to members
Provision: Mmrantie Kuo will provide support to members who are “in need”. Members in this category will be those found in circumstances that prompt immediate attention. Usually, help will be provided in serious emergencies.
Mode: On agenda, and approved by a vote of 9:3 margin.
MAL0022: 05-19-01 Meetings*
Provision: Meetings shall be held every two weeks, effective immediately.
- Constitutional restrictions,
- Patrons have agreed to sponsor events, when the need arises,
Mode: Suggested by executives and supported by popular consensus.
Provision: Since Mmrantie Association do not have a permanent meeting place, Daniel Brobby has offered his house as our meeting venue, since the induction of the Association. Now, due to some inconveniences, general meetings shall be rotated between members who are willing to offer their homes/apartments. As at now, the following members have offered their homes.
Daniel Brobby,
Frank Yeboah,
Nana Esum Badu,
Papa Yaw Kwarteng and
Steve Kwarteng.
Thank you for your offer.
Mode: On agenda, and supported by a popular consensus.
MAL0037: 09-15-01 Inactive Members
Provision: Members who have received a second letter regarding their status in the Association and have not responded during the time specified in these letters would no more be considered as members of Mmrantie Kuo. Members in this category could renew membership after all payments are settled.
Mode: Suggested by executives and supported by popular consensus.
MAL0038: 09-15-01 Members’ Attendance to Executive Meetings
Provision: Non-executive members could attend executive meetings, but only as observers. In other words, no contributions shall be expected of them and of course no voting rights will be given to them.
Mode: Constitutional provision that was clarified by Edward Owusu, in response to Nana Esum Badu’s question regarding the issue.
MAL0039: 09-29-01 Registration of Mmrantie Association
Provision: Mmrantie Association will be registered at all cost.
Mode: On agenda, and supported by all members
MAL0040: 09-29-01 Members’ Donation Towards Inauguration
Provision: The inauguration of the Association is scheduled for Saturday November 24, 2001, and members shall donate voluntarily to the inauguration fund. However, records of these contributions shall be taken and kept by Mmrantie Kuo.
Mode: On agenda, and supported by majority vote.
MAL0041: 10-13-01 Memo to All Members
Provision: A memo will be sent to all members, reminding them of the inauguration, and also reminds members of any arrears.
Mode: Suggested by executives and approved by a popular consensus.
MAL0042: 10-13-01 Absentees
Provision: Members who do not attend general meetings for three consecutive meetings, with no tangible reason shall be dealt with accordingly. New laws are yet to be established on absentees.
Mode: On Agenda and supported by majority vote.
MAL0043: 10-13-01 Mmrantie Kuo: An Association for the Akans?
Provision: Mmrantie Kuo is not an Association for one particular tribe but for any Ghanaian male between the ages of 18 and 50, as provided by the constitution. Members should therefore educate non-members who are skeptic about this topic.
Mode: Provided by constitution and clarified by Jonathan Poku, after a question by Henry Narthey, regarding the issue.
MAL0044: 10-13-01 Language to be spoken at Meetings
Provision: Members could speak English or Twi at meetings, since these are the languages commonly spoken and understood by Ghanaians.
Mode: Suggested by Nana Nsiah and supported by popular consensus.
MAL0045: 10-27-01 Attendances to Meetings
Provision: It has been agreed that:
- if a member absents himself for three consecutive meetings, with a reason of going to work, the fellow will pay an amount of $5.00 to boost the moral of members present.
- if a member absents himself for three consecutive meetings, with no reason, the fellow will pay a fine of $10.00.
- a member is declared inactive, after staying away from meetings for six consecutive times.
Mode: On agenda and supported by a majority vote.
MAL0046: 11/10/01 Inactive Members
Provision: The following members have been declared inactive:
Nana Osei Kusi-Baffour
Mode: On Agenda, supported by popular consensus.
Provision: Mmrantie Association will continue to have its general meetings once or twice in a month, as provided by the constitution. Meetings shall be held twice in a month, during the months of April through November, and once in a month during the months of December through March.
Mode: Suggested by Akwasi Mensah and supported by a majority vote, as follows:
Meetings to be held once every month: 8
Meetings to be held twice every month: 1
Meetings to be held once (Dec. – Mar.) and twice (April – Nov.): 11
MAL0048: 12-22-01 Dinner Dance
Provision: It was suggested that Dinner Dance (Party, awards night, acting, etc.) be scheduled at the end of every year. This should be planned to coincide with the club's anniversary, which falls at the end of the year.
Mode: Suggested by Fred Agyemang, seconded by Kwabena Prempeh and supported by popular consensus.
MAL0049: 12-22-01 Monthly Payment
Provision: Effective from January 2002, the Association’s monthly payment will be increased to $25.00. This will amount to $300.00 a year per member. There shall be no other payments, except for situations that exceed our budget provisions or was not accounted for in our budget. The $300.00 should be paid according to members’ strength. However, a default of three payments ($75.00 or more) will not be accepted.
Mode: On Agenda, and supported by majority vote as follows:
Members against the motion 0
MAL0050: 01-26-02 Previous Issues
Provision: If an issue has been discussed at a general meeting and become a law, it should not be discussed again at a meeting, as it consumes much of the time allotted to meeting. Rather, such issues should be referred from the byelaws, to let members become aware.
Mode: Suggested by Paul Nsiah Kankam and supported by popular consensus.
MAL0051: 01-26-02 Constitutional Amendment
Provision: The one-year ban on constitutional amendment was lifted. It was suggested that amendment procedures be considered before any amendment on the constitution is implemented. Power was given to the executives to come up with such procedures to be presented to members on the next general meeting.
Mode: On Agenda, and supported by majority vote:
Members for the motion 20
Members against the motion 4
MAL0052: 06-01-02 Constitutional Amendment Procedures
Provision: a. In the form of writing to the executives.
b. It will be read to all members for the first time for at least 2 members to second, then first debate and then to the executives.
c. Depending on the merits of the debate the executives will have the power to quash the motion or bring it back for second reading and debate. However the decision to quash the motion should be unanimous of all executive members present at the meeting. At least 5 executive members should be present. Also two-thirds majority of active members can override the decision of the executives to quash the motion.
d. Then the second and final reading. After we set up a date for voting which will require at least three-quarters of active members to be present. Prior to that all active members should be informed by mail.
e. Finally two-thirds majority will be needed for the amendment to be ratified.
MAL0053: 11-23-02 New Secretary
Provision: Andrew Nyarko is the new secretary following the death of Samuel Puni.
