Suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Paul Afoko has expressed gratitude to his supporters after they besieged the party headquarters on Thursday to call for his reinstatement.
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Afoko congratulates supporters for protesting against his suspension
A statement issued on his behalf by his spokesperson, Nana Yaw Osei, said “I commend those who poured onto the streets of Accra in defence of our party constitution for their bravery, love for unity and the rule of law.”
Suspended National Chairman of NPP, Paul Afoko
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According to Mr Afoko, what is happening in the NPP is simply a subversion of the party’s constitution.
“I commend those who poured onto the streets of Accra in defence of our party constitution for their bravery, love for unity and the rule of law,” the statement said.
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“I also commend the organisers for putting together incident-free public events like what we saw on TV and heard on radio. If we can exhibit such bravado in love and unity, there is no way the New Patriotic Party (NPP) cannot win next year's general elections.,” the statement added.
On Tuesday October 3, 2015, the NPP held its first National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Exective Council (NC) meetings to affirm the suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Mr Paul Afoko.
The meetings also affirmed the first vice chairman, Mr Freddie Blay, as acting National Chairman, were attended by the flag bearer of the party and his running mate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia respectively and some party stalwarts.
Report indicates that more than 90 members out of the 120 forming the membership attended the meetings including some members of parliament.
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However, the NEC has asked its members to support the suspension of Mr Afoko.
The Director of Communications of the party, Nana Akomea speaking to the media after meeting said the two bodies are solidly behind its new acting national chairman.
The meeting also re-affirmed the position of the acting chairman, Mr. Blay. The National Council was not seized of the matter because they are an appellate body and there may be an appeal to them but that didn’t come before the National Council so the National Executive Committee re-affirmed its decision for Mr. Blay to act as the acting National Chairman.”
“The meeting also admonished all party supporters across the country to stick and uphold the decisions of the party and that the party will do what is best for everybody in the party.”
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But the irate youth who stormed the party's office to petition NEC are demanding that Mr Afoko to be reinstated.
Meanwhile, some members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have accused the party's general secretary Kwabena Agyepong of flirting with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This follows a petition by three members of the party to the national leadership to oust Kwabena Agyepong.
The petitioners Chris Arthur, Former TESCON-KNUST President; Adreba Kwaku Abrefa Damoa, London; Kwabena Afum Dankwa, London; and Kwame Baffoe, NPP Regional Youth Organiser, Brong Ahafo said Kwabena Agyepong must be sanctioned for “exhibiting gross misconduct, and engaging in deals tantamount to venality whiles in his elected position as General Secretary”.
In a related development, an Accra High court has dismissed a case brought against the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of the procedure leading to the suspension of Paul Afoko.
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The court ruled that the case of a party supporter, Oppong Kyekyeku did not prove his interest in the case and failed to prove he was an agent of Afoko.
But the court in its view ordered the applicant to exhaust internal mechanisms in dealing with party issues instead of going public.
Kyekyeku argued the National Council should have dealt with the case instead of the NEC hence the decision is in violation of the party’s constitution.
Read more: NPP NEC meeting affirms Afoko's suspension
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Oppong Kyekyeku in his argument said the Disciplinary Committee of the NPP lacked jurisdiction to hear a petition calling for the suspension of Paul Afoko.
However, the court dismissed the case.
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