Afoko, Agyepong nemeses of Akufo-Addo's victory - Philip Addison claims

Nana Akufo-Addo’s lawyer, Philip Addison says perception that party Chairman, Paul Afoko, and General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong are sabotaging the party’s presidential bid is real.

The two have been accused of stoking divisions within the party with their avid resolution to scuttle the party’s campaign to recapture power in 2016.

Even though their accusers have fallen short of giving clear instances to buttress their claims, Mr. Addison told Joy News’ Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah that the perceptions cannot be discounted.

The lawyer who is vying to represent the party in parliament at the Korle Klottey constituency does not think the burden of proof should be laid at the doorstep of the accusers.

“There is a perception out there that they are working against the presidential candidate and it is a very strong perception. The burden is on them to discharge that perception. The ball is in their court to prove otherwise.”

“We all know that there is something going on…it gives the impression that there is some kind of confusion in the party,” asserted by Mr. Addison who led Akufo-Addo's legal team in the 2012 presidential election petition at the Supreme Court.

When pushed to confirm one of such perceptions, he uttered, “perceptions don’t just happen, there is a perception that there is corruption in the NDC, people don’t just wake up and then have these perceptions; it is based on very tangible reason. Why not any other person? Why should it be these people? So there is a basis for that.”

He would however not agree with a founding member of the party, George Ayisi Boateng, suggesting that the two should be sidelined going into the 2016 general elections.

They remain officers of the party so such a measure would not be in order, he explained.

Mr. Addison’s comments are coming at a time the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party says dealing with the internal divisions within his party remains his topmost agenda as he prepares to form a campaign team for the 2016 polls.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel | [email protected] | Twitter: @isaacessel