It Is Unconstitutional To Refer To Afoko As Former National Chairman

Nana Yaw Osei, spokesperson for National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko says it is unconstitutional for people to refer to the embattled chairman as ‘former’.

It is wrong for people to say he (Mr Afoko) is a former National Chairman because per the constitution of the party, he is still the chairman” he indicated.

The NPP National Executive Committee (NEC) voted unanimously on October 23, 2015 and endorsed a recommendation of the party's disciplinary committee, to suspend Mr Afoko for what many stalwarts of the party say was Mr Afoko’s party-ruining and divisive decisions.

The 1st Vice-Chairman, Freddie Blay, was appointed as acting National Chairman from that day.

Mr Afoko has subsequently written an appeal and submitted to the party’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong.

However, Nana Yaw Osei says “the appeal is not on the substance of the matter….it is on the constitutional breaches against Mr Afoko”.

He told Kwami Sefa Kayi in an interview Wednesday that "all this while, we have said Mr Afoko does not agree to his suspension but he will use the party’s constitution to clear his name. Article 4 clause 4c says the executive committee shall make any recommendation he deem fit to promote discipline within the party including the suspension and or expulsion of a member. The recommendation automatically comes into full force and effect where no appeal is lodged against it in accordance to provisions of this constitution…Per the constitution if anyone is suspended, until he appeals; the person still holds his position."

According to him per the constitution the 21 days has not elapsed and so Mr Afoko is still the Chairman of the party; adding “until the 21 days it is against the constitution (of the party) to regard him as a former chairman…