General News of Friday, 11 September 2015

Source: kasapafmonline.com

I am still at post – Afoko

Paul Afoko - NPP Chairman Paul Afoko - NPP Chairman

National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko says he is still at post working to ensure that the party wins the 2016 general elections.

His remarks come in the wake of a proposal from some Elders of the party requesting the National Disciplinary Committee of the party to suspend him until after the 2016 general elections.

But Mr. Afoko, through his spokesperson, Nana Yaw Osei, in an interview with Fiifi Banson on Kasapa 102.3 FM said such proposal should be disregarded because Paul Afoko was still at post.

He, however, refused to discuss the content of the said letter written to Mr. Afoko by the National Council of Elders of the party.

On Monday, September 7, 2015, the Chairman of the National Council of Elders of the NPP, C. K. Tedam, wrote a letter to the National Disciplinary Committee of the party complaining about the conduct of Mr. Paul Afoko, especially, on matters relating to the alleged opening of a secret bank account at Ecobank.

In the said letter, the Elders accused Mr. Afoko of issuing a statement through his spokesperson outlining his commitment to fight corruption at all levels of the party.

That aside, they do not understand why Mr. Afoko will honour a police invitation with regards to the alleged operation of a secret bank account and write a statement to that effect knowing very well that there was a five-member committee set up to investigate the matter.

In the opinion of the Elders, the conduct of the National Chairman and his spokesperson is a gross and flagrant violation of Article 3D (VIII) of the party’s Constitution which states that “A member shall not initiate, commence or prosecute any legal proceedings whatsoever against the party or any other Member of the party relating to party affairs, without first having exhausted the grievance procedure laid down in this Constitution in respect of grievances against the party or any other Member”.

They, therefore, want the Disciplinary Committee to investigate the matter.

Among the reliefs being sought by the party Elders are:A thorough investigation into the constitutional breaches of Chairman Afoko; Appropriate recommendation to promote discipline, peace, order, harmony and progress in the party towards election 2016; and at least, suspension of Chairman Afoko from his office until after the 2016 elections.