Director of the Center for Ageing Studies at the University of Ghana, Prof. Joseph Osafo has criticized the New Patriotic Party's move to sack some prominent members of the party.
Four bigwigs of the party in the persons of Hopeson Adorye, a defeated parliamentary candidate, Nana Ohene Ntow, a former General Secretary, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, a former Zongo Minister and Yaw Buaben Asamoah, former Adentan MP, have been axed from the party for publicly declaring their support for Alan Kyerematen who resigned from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following his inability to become its flagbearer.
Alan Kyerematen withdrew from the party's elections to contest as independent candidate and in view of this, any member who chooses to follow him automatically forfeits his or her membership, according to a statement by the party.
NPP Justifies Decision
The statement signed by the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, explained that “despite their flagrant breach of the Party’s Constitution particularly Articles 3(5)(A)(4) and 3(9)(1), the afore-named men still hold themselves out as members of the NPP”.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Article 3(5)(A)(4) of the NPP Constitution enjoins all members of the Party to abide by and publicly uphold the decisions of the Party.”
The statement further indicated that Article 3(9)(1) of the Constitution provides that “a Member of the Party, who stands as an independent candidate against the officially elected member of the Party, or who joins or declares his or her support for another Political Party, or for an independent candidate, when the Party has sponsored a candidate in a general or by-election, automatically forfeits his or her membership of the Party”.
“In line with these constitutional provisions, it is the view of the NPP that Hopeson Adorye, Nana Ohene Ntow, Boniface Abubakar Saddique and Yaw Buaben Asamoa have AUTOMATICALLY FORFEITED their membership of the Party. They are, therefore, no longer members of the Party”, the statement concluded.
Diplomacy
But the dismissal of these persons, to Prof. Joseph Osafo, is an impetuous decision.
The Senior Psychologist explained on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Monday morning that he wished the party had reconsidered its decision and opted to use diplomatic ways to address their issues with the affected persons.
He argued that the influence of the four individuals in the party cannot be underrated, hence, sacking them at a critical time as when the NPP is preparing to contest the largest opposition National Democratic Congress is a dicey call.
"Did the party engage them?", he questioned as, to him, the NPP should have first called for a meeting with the dismissed members stressing "every law has a human face".
He advised the party to "do everything possible for unity to prevail" and concluded that their decision is "coming too early for my liking".
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Party law seems to be more respected than the nation’s laws. People can heal wads of cash home with no consequence, attack others as Ken and Alan reps were beaten to pulp, all with government looking the other way but God forbid there's any breach to party rules.
Prof, don't you think it's better to stamp your foot and make a bold statement bf others follow? Why should the party wait till they cause more havoc? Better to prune down and be poised and focused into strategising for the campaign. The party Gen sec issued a caution earlier and I believe that was a diplomatic warning to them, but they heeded not, so I believe the action is firm and there couldn't have been a better time
What does the Npp constitution says about internal elections concerning party leadership? Does the constitution allows the party leadership to support one candidate when there’s a contest? If the party leadership goes against the party constitution who sanctions them? Was there a violation in the flagbearership race? If there was, who was cautioned during the campaign? What has happened to the Bawumia agent who beat up Alan’s agent? Majority of Ghanaians are watching how the party leadership are running the affairs of the party, how hypocritical they are, surely the table will turn one day. The whole party executives supporting one candidate after taking huge sums of money from the other aspirants knowing is not going to be a free and fair elections. Posterity will judge the party leadership
These same so called intellectuals will turn round and point fingers at gov’t and political system that it’s not enforcing laws and order,until when will we allow laws to work,aren’t these guys aware of their constitution that following non-party candidate renders them non party members,what else shd the party do.Indiscipline in Ghana and Africa is nauseating!
Master you need to stop this baseless statement. Any person is a person and one plus one is two. This can of people we have in this country that’s why we see what we see now. Law is law and law is not selective. NPP done well so dismissed them from the party. If NPP can go opposite because of these people then it’s good for NPP to go opposite than to keep quiet. If they go opposition the law is working.
Prof ain't we the people who say rules do not work in this country? They should have known better, because of votes right things shouldn't be done eh then we have long way to go
These days, Ghanaian professors and book doctors have all become like populist serial callers on radio and tv stations. Their comments are not based on any logic or analysis. They just talk like serial callers. So this prof wants NPP to wait until December 1, 2024, few days to the general elections on December 7th, before they take action to sack these saboteurs?