Suspending Kwabena Agyepong, Crabbe lesser of two evils - Amoako Baah

A political scientist Dr. Amoako Baah has defused concerns that the suspension of Kwabena Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe, General Secretary and First Vice Chairman respectively of NPP, could affect the party’s presidential fortunes next year.

According to the Head of the Political Science Department at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the NPP rather stands to gain from the decision. Going into the 2016 general elections with a divided front festered with indiscipline would rather have been dire for the party, Dr. Baah analysed.

The NPP’s Disciplinary Committee after investigations, based on various petitions it received, recommended a 15-month suspension for Kwabena Agyepong and indefinite suspension for Sammy Crabbe.

Today, Thursday December 10, 2015, the National Executive Committee of the party largely upheld the recommendations. It, however, decided to vary the recommendation for the General Secretary and handed him an indefinite suspension, too.

The two were accused of publicly misconducting themselves and acting against the interest of the party.

Some have harboured the fear that supporters of the duo especially Mr. Agyepong who received massive endorsement at the party’s congress in Tamale last year, may turn against the party and its flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

But Dr. Amoako Baah has downplayed any possibility of such reprisals.

He told Evans Mensah on Joy FM's Top Story he was not surprised by the outcome. The supporters would be aware this was coming, he said.

He strongly believes Nana Akufo-Addo’s chance in 2016 would not be affected by these suspensions because the electorate would now see the party as united and disciplined, and ready for power.

“His suspension is lesser of the two evils,” he stated.

Kwabena Agyepong, myjoyonline.com learnt had pleaded for leniency but that was not taken by the National Executive Committee.

For Dr. Amoako Baah, the suspensions are in order.
Meanwhile, the suspensions have elicited wild jubilation at the party’s headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra.