NPP Council of Elders to determine fate of Afoko, Agyepong

The National Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party is set to hold an emergency meeting next week over calls for the resignation of party chairman, Paul Afoko and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong.

Spokesperson for the Council of Elders, Dr. Barfour Adjei Bawuah, told Joy News’ Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah the Council will critically examine all the views expressed by the party members.

He said it is possible that the Council, having regards for all the facts, may uphold the calls for the two leaders to step aside.

“But it is also possible that we will come to a completely different conclusion,” he added.

Following the death of Upper East regional Chairman of the opposition NPP, Adams Mahama , many have called for the resignation of Messrs Afoko and Agyepong.

Some unknown assailants, midnight Wednesday doused Mr. Adams Mahama with acid leading to his death a few hours later at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.

The motive for the murder is unknown but only last week, there was a violent confrontation in the Upper East Region which resulted in the scuttling of a planned meeting between the party National chairman and general secretary and other regional executives of the party.

Adams Mahama had indicated he was not aware of the planned meeting and wondered why the two national executives will organise a party meeting in his region, with his executives and would not inform him about it.

Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong lodged an assault complaint with the Upper East police but also indicated that Adams Mahama was well aware of the meeting.

The controversy caused a bit of a stir in the party and was being investigated until Wednesday night's acid attack on the late chairman.

One of the two suspects, Gregory Afoko, who is said to be a brother to Paul Afoko is in police grips.

The news about the death of the party chairman has left many shocked and has also led to some attacks especially in the Upper East Region.

Saturday morning whilst preparations were underway to bury Chairman Adams as he is popularly called, a group of protesters besieged the hospital morgue with placards calling for the resignation or removal of Messrs Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong.

The two were not at the funeral because they are suspected of having played a role in Adams’ attack.

They both have issued separate statements condemning the murder.

Nonetheless, the spokesperson for the family of the late chairman, Rockson Bukari delivered an emotionally charged speech after the burial calling for some leaders whom he accused of having a hand in the attack to be removed from the party.

He stopped short of mentioning names.
Earlier, a member of the Council of Elders, Mr. George Ayisi Boateng, called for the resignation of the two.

He contended it was in the larger interest of the party for them to do this.

Another member of the Council, Appiah Menkah , however, disagreed .

Saturday the Council issued a statement signed by its Chairman and former Council of State member, CK Tedam calling on all true members of the party to refrain from conjectures and allow the police to complete their investigations.