General News of Monday, 14 September 2015

Source: tv3network.com

Suspending Afoko would muddy NPP waters - Lecturer

NPP National Chairman, Paul Afoko NPP National Chairman, Paul Afoko

The decision by the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party to ask National Chairman, Paul Afoko to be suspended has been described as a step which would “further muddy” the party’s ‘waters’.

Some political watchers have described the move as one that ‘could deepen the woes’ of the NPP because instead of healing the party, this decision would rather infuriate supporters of Mr. Afoko and worsen the cracks within the rank and file of the party.

The main opposition in Ghana has in the last few months been in the media for all the wrong reasons especially amongst its senior executives. The latest twist to the never ending drama in the NPP was when the Council of Elders wrote to the National Executives Committee to suspend Paul Afoko until after the 2016 elections.

This decision follows reports that he has through various means distracted the party’s focus by throwing spokes into the works of the flagbearer. The letter calling for his suspension was signed by one of the elders C.K Tedam and was copied to the flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo. It indicated that the Chairman had breached portions of the party’s constitution and must be disciplined.

Sharing his thoughts on the issue to TV3 News, Political Science Lecturer with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Aminu Dramani said “it’s surprising that it is the senior ones in the party who are fighting each other or amongst themselves.

“I would have said that instead of discussing their matters in the media, they should rather deal with it internally or they could muddy the water the more. If they are arguing that he [Paul Afoko] has breached their constitution then they could go to the disciplinary committee look at what punitive actions there are per their constitution.

“Its better that way than to make it look like there is a plot against someone… That way it would be difficult to get to the bottom and resolve the problem. They should remember that the political aim is to win power in 2016.”

Meanwhile the flagbearer of the party, Nana Akufo Addo has asked all members of the party to desist from discussing the party’s issues in the media.