Kwabena Agyepong calls bluff of NPP's legal committee

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Kwabena Agyepong has ignored a directive by the constitutional and legal committee to reinstate two officers he asked to proceed on leave.

He said the matter of the two officers – Messrs Opare Hammond and Perry Okudzeto – had not been referred to the constitutional committee for adjudication.

The NPP's constitutional and legal committee chaired by Prof. Mike Ocquaye Tuesday directed Mr. Agyepong to reinstate the two because their dismissal was done in violation of the party's constitutional provisions.

“It is hoped that going forward, officers of the Party as highly placed as the General Secretary, will desist from such unhealthy actions which may only expose the Party to avoidable but costly legal suits,” the constitutional committee stated.

But reacting to the directive, Mr. Agyepong issued a statement saying that “Neither the Steering Committee, National Executive Committee nor National Council has referred the matter at issue to the constitutional and legal committee.”

“In good faith and in accordance with Article 9B (5) of the NPP constitution, any report of any standing committee should duly be submitted to the Steering Committee for consideration. This was not the case,” the statement added.

It noted that “Assuming without admitting that the matter was even referred to the constitutional and legal committee, they could only proffer an opinion for consideration. That opinion can only be advisory and not mandatory.”

The General Secretary who has been at loggerheads with a section of the National Executive of the NPP said the “Publication of this unsolicited opinion on a purely administrative matter, is improper, an anomaly and a gross abuse of due process in our party.” 

He asked the public and the party faithful to “disregard the said publication with all the contempt it deserves.”

The Chairman of the Constitutional Committee Prof. Ocquaye has expressed surprise at the posture of the NPP General Secretary.

He said the committee will issue a public statement in response to Mr. Agyepong's comments.