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NPP Decides Afoko Fate

By Daily Guide
NPP NPP Decides Afoko Fate
OCT 13, 2015 LISTEN

Embattled National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has been given an October 21, 2015 deadline to appear before the party's Disciplinary Committee or have his fate decided, a source at the party headquarters has hinted.

According to the source, the decision was taken yesterday after Mr Afoko had failed to honour an invitation on four consecutive occasions to respond to certain allegations levelled against him.

The national chairman has consistently snubbed the committee in a very barefaced manner, apparently calling their bluff.

It follows complaint received by the Disciplinary Committee dated 7 September, 2015, from the National Council of Elders of the NPP, alleging a case of misconduct against Mr Paul Afoko on a number of charges, among which are constitutional breaches and trading internal party affairs in the media contrary to laid-down procedures of the party as well as authorising the police to probe the party.

The Council of Elders therefore asked for a thorough investigation into the constitutional breaches, appropriate recommendations to promote discipline, peace, order, harmony and progress in the party towards election 2016 and if possible, the suspension of Mr Afoko from office until after the 2016 elections.

Basis 
But the source told DAILY GUIDE that on all four occasions – 16 September, 2015; 22 September, 2015; 6 October, 2015 and 12 October, 2015 – that the Committee sent the invitations to him, he had failed to show up.

On the first day of the scheduled hearing – 16 September, 2015 – the source narrated, 'Mr Afoko did not show up. The Committee took the evidence of the complainants (Council of Elders) down to be made available to Mr Afoko at the subsequent sitting so that he could ask the complainants whatever questions he should desire.'

The source however noted that 'On 22 September, 2015 the Committee met again expecting Mr Afoko. He did not turn up. He rather sent a letter dated 16 September, 2015 saying, 'I lost my father and I am in the middle of finalising the necessary customary funeral rites for him. This may take me to the end of September 2015.''

The Committee was therefore said to have responded by expressing its condolences and adjourned sitting to 6 October, 2015.

But when the day came, he again did not turn up.
Excuses
Instead, he reportedly sent two lawyers – Martin Kpebu and Dr Peter Atupare – to represent him. They were said to have sent documents on legal arguments on

aspects of the NPP Constitution pertaining to the petition of the Council of Elders, similar to those raised by the NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, and ended up saying, 'I therefore respectfully urge you (National Disciplinary Committee) to rescind your decision on the National Chair as it flies in the face of the laid down disciplinary and grievance procedures in Article 4 of the party’s Constitution.”

 Afoko’s lawyers were then said to have asked for a date to come along with their client, with Dr Atupare specifically asking for Monday, 12 October, 2015 after consulting his diary and his colleague. The Committee agreed and subsequently adjourned sitting.

Interestingly, when the Committee met yesterday, Mr Afoko again failed to show up.

According to the source, this time around, one of his lawyers, Kpebu, brought a medical report signed on 11 October, 2015 by one Dr A. A.

Afoko, said to be an urologist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, with diagnosis of cervical spondylosis.

'The lawyer also brought documents on further legal arguments. The lawyer, after consulting his diary, agreed on 21 October, 2015 for the next meeting,' the source revealed.

It however later emerged that Afoko, who failed to appear before the Committee, was said to be chairing a steering committee meeting at the Airport West Hotel.

This is what was said to have informed the Committee's decision to issue Afoko with a caveat to either show up at the next meeting or face the music.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

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