The National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Paul Afoko has instructed the Electoral Commission (EC), to disregard any correspondence from the party which does not bear his signature or that of the General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong.
[contextly_sidebar id=”jpXbC6DGacvwqaQlPS7q6ndUHmVnNVAP”]In a letter dated May 27, 2015, addressed to the Deputy Chairman in charge of operations at the EC, and sighted by Citi News, Paul Afoko stressed that “the only authorized signatories to any official communication to the commission” are himself, “the National Chairman and the General Secretary”.
This comes on the back of reports that the party’s National Organizer John Boadu, wrote a letter to the EC, notifying it of the party’s impending Parliamentary primaries on June 13.
John Boadu however denied the allegations when Citi News contacted him.
Mr. Afoko insisted the party has not officially submitted notices of poll to the commission.
While John Boadu maintains he has “not written any letter to the EC,” many believe these directives to the commission are Mr. Afoko’s reaction to Mr. Boadu’s perceived action.
According to sources close to the situation, this will deepen what appears to be a scramble for power and authority in a party that is currently struggling to deal with divisions in the party.
In May this year, the First National Vice-Chairman of the NPP Freddie Blay called a Steering Committee meeting, reportedly without recourse to Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong.
According to NPP sources, the meeting should normally be called at least once a week.
The last meeting was however held two months ago.
Paul Afoko is mandated to chair Steering Committee meetings which are attended by elected national officers of the party.
But the prolonged failure of Mr Afoko and Agyepong to call the meeting is said to have, in the past, prompted an intervention by NPP’s 2016 flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo.
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By: Raymond Acquah/citifmonline.com/Ghana