The Two Faces Of NPP

He’s been bruised, battered and blistered, especially in print and on social media. He’s been scandalized, summarily tried and precipitously convicted by the media, but who really is Paul Awetami Afoko? Some section of the media is yet to find out for the benefit of their listenership and readership as well as enriching their editorial content.

The Paul Afoko story as gleaned from the publications of Daily Guide and Kweku Baako revealed the tale of a man in deep cage, pain and anguish for variety of reasons. Of course there are insinuations that he was leaking party information to the NDC as if the New Patriotic Party had some classified information to hide. Those publications were intended to cult public hatred for him but mercifully, most readers and listeners showed sympathy for the hatred stricken man.

The stories and the accompanying screaming headlines have prompted many Ghanaians to revise their opinion of the man they aimed at denting his image and businesses without iota of evidence against him.

While mixed reactions of Afoko’s looks, resources and his competence; His competences as a National Chairman are irrefutable facts beyond his crucifixion in the public glare. His ability to rake-in resources to oil the smooth running of the campaign is not in doubt. The begging question there is what is the CRIME of Paul Awentami Afoko? What has he done wrong? Could a social group actually do this to their own? Would I be wrong to ask what they would not do to the flesh of a frog, when crocodiles eat their own eggs?

I AM NOT HOLDING BRIEF FOR AFOKO IN ANYWAY, BUT THESE ARE FACTS THAT CAN NOT BE CONTESTED

Swift Irrefutable Facts about Afoko

1. He contested and won power against the maneuverings of his hecklers
2. He is committed to implementing his ‘New Plan for Power’ message sold to delegates before, during and after Tamale 2014.
3. He is resolute to purge the party from corrupt tagging as a way of reinforcing the banner campaign of Nana Addo
4. Afoko proposed a 40:40:20 formulas of all resources coming to the party, thus 40% to Constituencies, 40% for the running of the National Secretariat and 20% percent for the supervisory role by the regional secretariats.
5. He was among other things readying to brand all constituency offices in the 275 constituencies and refurbish them to standard.
6. It is a fact that Afoko has spent on the party more than any other party chairman in the annals of the party
7. It is true also that Afoko has bought and branded 285 Nissan Hard Body Pick-Ups for the party
8. The truth is that he has 500 motorbikes to be distributed for election 2016
9. The reality is that Afoko has instituted a system to deliver funds directly to Constituencies without ‘handling charges’
10. It is not in doubt that Afoko is advocating against the establishment of a parallel campaign structure to undermine and obliterate party structures and systems
11. Afoko thinks that the party is bigger in terms of numbers than Ghana Police Service, whence flagbearer and parliamentary candidates should allow themselves for the party to manage to victory rather than managing the party to victory
12. Paul believes our minority is not proactive enough and that they must be seen working to oust the NDC
13. Paul Afoko was against the desire of some members of parliament to run unopposed contrary to the constitution of the party
14. Chairman Afoko again disagreed for the waiver proposal to allow for some members of parliament, women and coastal constituencies to run unchallenged
15. The fact also is that Chairman Paul Afoko has no hand in the Klottey Korle primaries, rather he only sort to uphold the sanctity of the party’s constitution.
16. The point is that Afoko has shown and demonstrated beyond measure that he was for a united party
17. It is very true also that Afoko could have nailed others, but he did not for the sake of party unity
18. Tell me; was he against Nana Addo in both 2008 and 2012 general elections?
19. Was the NDC not there when he was trekking the three Northern Regions with Dr Bawumia together with Aliu Mahama (late)?
20. Can you also say all the financial supports he offered the Party and Nana Addo in previous elections were NDC induced?
21. The point is that Afoko has contributed and is still contributing more than his persecutors

On the contrary, he’s been humiliated for standing up for the upright things. Afoko is suspended while people cited for financial malfeasance walk bare chested, Afoko is been nailed while Blay and Abankwah are been hail around.

Was it a crime for Afoko to demand or ask for accountability? How has he offended the party by asking that all assets, movable and non-movable records should be produce for perusal? Was Paul wrong to have asked for the whereabouts of the 2012 campaign Pick-Ups while insisting he defray the debt of his predecessors?, What prevents him from demanding to see what is ask of him? Just imagine the instance where a treasurer goes to buy treasury bills with party funds without receipt or certificate and the Afoko is told to gloss over it because it will hurt the campaign. What is it that could embolden the campaign? How can a party seeking political power suspend an anti-corruption crusader from its fold for wanting uproots corrupt practices?

Truth be told, Paul A. Afoko did nothing to contravene NPP’s constitution article 4 clauses 7 (a) and (b); a) a complaint shall involve an allegation that any of the following acts of misconduct relates to a Member:

i. Violation of the duties of a Member;

ii. Violent, dangerous or intimidatory conduct against another Member;

iii. Falsification of reports, accounts or expense claims or other fraudulent conduct;

iv. Willful damage to Party property;

v. Breach of the duty to uphold publicly Party policies;

vi. Creation of discord or factionalism within the Party;

vii. Bringing the name of the Party into disrepute or public ridicule; vii. Defection to another party.

(b) Any conduct which has the effect of any of the above or is similar in nature to any of the above shall amount to misconduct and shall attract sanctions including fines, suspension, and expulsion from the Party or disqualification from holding any office or position in the Party for a stated period.

Hate him, dislike his style of leadership, you can even have problem with his imposing height, but uphold and apply the constitution to the latter fairly. Think not much about the sources of his worth, fear him not that much to injure your image.

Were we not in this country u under Nana Addo’s Flagbearership when self-acclaimed sole financier of New Patriotic Party, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong hipped dozens of insults on party elders and naming some murderers? I overheard the Assin- Central Member of Parliament calling all members of NPP idiots and fools; he added that they (NPP) shall remain in opposition for life. I guess the operation House Cleaners are yet to hear that.

Where were the Council of Elders when Kennedy Agyapong told the world that any attempt to reprimand him shall resist stiffer opposition and that he was setting some one million dollars aside to thwart the fortunes of the party should Kwabena Agyapong invite him to Disciplinary Committee? Is Kennedy bigger than the laws of the New Patriotic Party or he is immune to impugn the image of the party?

As little as I am, thanks to history and literature, I know that Kakrah Essamoah Esq. did not do to the NPP what Osei Kyei Mensa Bonsu did to the fortunes of the NPP in the Nadowli/Kaleo Constituency to the betterment of his friend Alban Bagbin. Why has the party become so selective in delivery of justice? I am beginning to concur to the widely spread disposition that the NPP would not apply the constitution of the republic should they be elected to rule the country.

Let’s rewind to when Perry Okudzeto was granted leave and Opare Hammond replacement. I heard several theories to the extent that the General Secretary and for that matter any member cannot on his or her own vary a decision of National Council and that those two were appointed by National Council.

Today, we are being told that despite the fact that a delegate conference elected officials, some seventy rebels could actually over turn that decision and citing parliament and Supreme Court to advance a wobbling argument.

Where is the protective gun of the constitution? Why are regional Chairmen suspending Constituencies Officers without recourse to the same arguments advanced in pursuant to the case involving Perry? The wall is too broken to the extent that Daniel Bugri Naabu could revoke an appointment of an Officer single handedly? The happenings in the New Patriotic Party remind me of a Book titled ‘Animal Farm’.

I am worried because the Dankwah-Busia-Dombo tradition is systematically sliding into a situation where it would not hold any locus to question government on constitutional infractions with their recent barefaced massacre of their sixty-eight paged constitution hinging on their necks.

With faith in God; and believing in the supreme dignity of man; in common brotherhood of all Ghanaians wherever they may be; and in the right of every Ghanaian citizen to freedom of conscience, association and expression; I hereby UPHOLD the constitution of New Patriotic Party thereby standing by Paul Afoko to seek redress in courts and dedicate his victory to them before they turn 360 to blame him their misfortunes.