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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".