Politics of Wednesday, 10 September 2014

Source: tv3network.com

K. Agyepong shot down by NPP’s Constitutional C’tee

The Constitutional Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described as “improper” and "unhealthy" recent actions by General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, TV3 can confirm.

Mr Agyepong has, therefore, been asked to reverse his actions emanating from certain decisions he took.

He asked Acting Communications Director Perry Okudzeto to proceed on his accumulated leave, a decision which sparked anger among a cross-section of the party’s supporters.

Prior to that, Mr Agyepong had asked Director of Finance and Administration Kwadwo Opare-Hammond to proceed on immediate leave.

A draft report chanced upon by TV3 as regards review of the General Secretary’s directives finds him falling foul of the party's constitution.

The report has called for the immediate reinstatement of all "sacked" officers and the withdrawal from office of recently appointed Deputy Communications Directors.

“It follows from the foregoing that the recent appointment of Deputy Communications Directors is unconstitutional, to the extent that same was without the blessing of the NEC,” the report chanced upon by TV3 points out.

Mr Agyepong accompanied by NPP Chairman Paul Afoko on Tuesday, August 19 met journalists to justify their decisions but the press conference was interrupted by a bloody clash between security guards of the party and some men believed to be Mr Agyepong's personal guards.

“The General Secretary is humbly requested to reverse [his directives] for due process to be followed.”

The draft report attributed the developments within the party to misconstruction of its constitution by some individuals.

Mr Agyepong is accused of taking his decisions without the consultation of the National Executive Committee nor its Steering Committee.

“The [Constitutional] Committee respectfully considers [Mr Agyepong’s proceed-on-leave directives] an anomaly.”

“In the light of the provisions of the Constitution referred to above, which enjoins collaboration between the General Secretary and the Steering Committee/NEC, as well as the fact that the Steering Committee is responsible for the daily management of the affairs of the party, the Committee finds the directive given by the General Secretary for those officers of the Party to proceed on leave, improper.”

Mr Agyepong has, therefore, been advised to desist from such “unhealthy” acts “which may only expose the Party to avoidable but costly legal suits.”