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General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie has come under heavy criticisms within his party in recent times after he was cited for contempt by the apex court which heard the just-ended 2012 Election Petition. Days after the Supreme Court dismissed the petitioners� (Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (flagbearer), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (Running mate) and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey (National Chairman)) case, Sir John openly declared that Nana Akufo-Addo will still run as the party�s flagbearer in 2016 the polls. His comment attracted some condemnation and support from within and without in his party. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP is also yet to announce Sir John�s fate as the General Secretary after his contemptuous utterances resulted in him being fined GHC 5,000 But a founding member of the NPP, Dr Kwame Amoako-Tuffour has thrown his weight behind Sir John and appeal to the party leadership to forgive him. According to him, Sir John adapted his style of leadership purposely to �attack� the General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia aka �General Mosquito� who harbours an unbridled thirst to launch vituperative attacks on the NPP. Dr. Amoako-Tuffour believed grassroots supporters of the NPP are buoyed by Sir John�s mannerism and mode of politicking hence any sanctions imposed on him might affect the party negatively in the next polls. �Sir John is adapting because lots of people on the ground love him. He comes out and bashes the NDC the way Asiedu Nketia bashes the NPP. Lots of people see him to be effective but most think it�s a problem because he is an academic. But your vote is naturalized by your watchman. ��The market woman who cannot read or write�s spirit is lifted by Sir John who comes out to defend the party. We do have different kinds of secretaries, but I think Sir John adapts. If he makes a mistake...we should correct him. ��Other people on the ground hail him. If I even disagree with him (Sir John), what is the generality of the party on the ground thinking of him, I have to take that into consideration,� he stated on Radio XYZ.