The National Council of Elders of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has written to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee, demanding amongst others, that the National Chairman Paul Afoko, be made to step aside until after the 2016 elections. The council in a letter written to the National Disciplinary Committee on Thursday September 10, enumerated amongst others, the many challenges the party has been facing in recent months.
Mr. Paul Afoko was recently criticized for making public comments on the party’s finances, a practice against laid down rules. This was after a party youth activist, Baah Acheamfour, accused the party’s Treasurer, Abankwa Yeboah and First National Vice Chairman Freddie Blay of siphoning money into a secret account.
Mr. Afoko, the Chairman and the General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, also came under intense criticism in the last few months following some unhealthy developments. The council is by their letter demanding “a thorough investigation into the actions of the National Chairman which clearly constitutes a breach of the party’s constitution, an appropriate recommendation to promote discipline, order, harmony and progress in the party towards the 2016 polls, and at least a suspension of Chairman Afoko from office until after the 2016 elections.”
One of the major happenings that also deepened the cracks in the party, was the death of its Upper East Regional chairman, Adam Mahama, and the subsequent tension that followed his demise. Although suspects in the murder, one of whom is the National Chairman’s brother are currently on trial, the National Chairman and the General Secretary have been accused of playing a role in crime.
The allegations were largely fuelled by the fact that the two national executives had been involved in an altercation with the deceased before his death. Party members who were angered by the unfortunate incident had called on the two leaders resign their positions but that was not to be as the party’s flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, called for calm and insisted that the laws must be allowed to work.
Political watchers have blamed these developments on perceived factionalism in the party. The National Council of Elders, enumerating the aforementioned issues, are of the view that the actions of the National Chairman Paul Afoko, has “created a lot of disaffection, panic, disregard, disfavor, contempt for the party throughout the media leading to considerable acrimony both within and outside the party nationally and internationally; thus undermining further the party’s preparations towards winning the 2016 general elections.”
The elders say the National Chairman has not exhibited leadership in handling all these issues, hence the need for him to step aside while efforts are made to build the party formidably for the 2016 elections. The National Council of Elders ended by saying that the party has reached the crossroad and definitive action needs to be taken immediately to bring all such misconducts and infractions to an end.
“We would expect speedy treatment of this complaint and in any case not later than the constitutionally stipulated deadline of the twenty-one days in Article 4.5C”.
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Source: Citi 97.3 FM
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