Suspended NPP Chairman, Paul Afoko
The New Patriotic Party (NPP’s) National Executive Committee (NEC) has unanimously voted to suspend its National Chairman Paul Afoko indefinitely.
The NEC upheld the overwhelming decision by the Disciplinary Committee which decided that Mr Afoko be suspended.
Citi News’ Franklin Badu who has been reporting from the party’s headquarters in Accra said, the decision was taken in a meeting called on Friday October 23, by First National Vice Chairman, Freddie Blay.
The Disciplinary Committee took the decision first, after the National Council of Elders in September, wrote to it, demanding amongst others, that the National Chairman Paul Afoko, be made to step aside until after 2016 elections.
Friday’s NEC meeting was marred by violence in the morning when members of the party’s private security, ‘Invisible Forces,’ burnt a motorbike and destroyed the windscreen of a taxi cab at the party office.
According to them, a youth group they suspect were members of ‘Bolga Bull Dog’ who are allegedly loyalists of Mr. Afoko had attempted to disrupt the meeting.
The council in the letter enumerated amongst others, the many challenges the party has been facing in recent months and the failure of the Chairman to restore order.
Who was at the NEC meeting?
Bishop Asante Antwi – Chairman of the party’s disciplinary committee
Haruna Eseku – Former chairman of the NPP
Bugri Naabu – The Northern Regional Chairman of the party.
Hackman Owusu Agyemang –A leading member of the party
Treasurer – Abankwah Yeboah
Freddie Blay who convened the meeting,
The party’s Chairman in the Ashanti Region, Antwi Boasiak
KT Hammond
Ursula Owusu
John boadu
Sammy Awuku – National Youth Organizer
What does the NPP constitution say?
According to the constitution, the National Chairman shall be the convener and the chairman of all the meetings including the National Executive Committee.
The committee cannot meet until at least, one-third of the members stated above are present.
It however adds that the absence of the National Chairperson, the first National Vice Chairperson shall act in his or her place.
Mr. Paul Afoko was recently criticized for making public comments on the party’s finances, a practice against laid down rules.
Mr. Paul Afoko and his colleague, Kwabena Agyepong, the General Secretary, have been under pressure to leave the party following the death of the party’s Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama.
The two leaders were accused of having a hand in the death of the late NPP stalwart, an allegation they have flatly denied.
Paul Afoko’s brother, Gregory Afoko, is one of the suspects on trial for the murder of Adams Mahama, who he suffered severe burns after acid was poured on him.
The NPP is yet to fully recover from the internal strife that has hit the party in recent months.
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