An Accra High Court on Wednesday dismissed a suit brought against the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), challenging the processes that led to the suspension of its National Chairman, Paul Afoko.
Oppong Kyekyeku, a member of the party, argued that the party’s Disciplinary Committee did not have the power to hear a petition for the chairman’s suspension.
According to him, any petition seeking punitive actions against the National Chairman ought to have been directed at the National Council, which is the highest decision-making body of the party after congress.
[contextly_sidebar id=”jYaJcg3qF9OUKWGewqjv1GHcz84xTyK1″]He thus argued that it was a violation of the NPP’s constitution to suspend Paul Afoko using that procedure.
But lawyers for the NPP in a preliminary response argued that Oppong Kyekyeku did not show any willingness to continue with the case.
They also argued that he failed to go through the internal party structures to get his concerns addressed hence their call for the case to be thrown out.
The court accordingly upheld their argument and subsequently dismissed the suit.
The other suit
Meanwhile three other members of the party in the Ashanti Region have also sued the party against Mr. Afoko’s suspension.
The three, whose case is expected to be heard on November 9, are also asking the court to prevent Mr. Freddie Blay, first Vice Chairman, from holding himself as the acting National Chairman.
They also want the court to stop the party from holding any meetings since in their view, the processes for Afoko’s suspension was flawed and unconstitutional.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP on October 23 endorsed a recommendation of the party’s disciplinary committee, suspending the National Chairman indefinitely for stated misconduct.
His suspension followed a petition filed by two elders of the party – Alhaji Sulemana Yirimea and Alhaji Aminu – who alleged that Mr. Afoko was not working in the interest of the party since his election.
–
By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana