AFOKO GETS RAW DEAL

Paul Afoko, National Chairman, New Ptriotic Party (NPP)

By Ekow Mensah

This could very well be the  end of any democratic pretension in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the beginning of a tsarist era in a political party which prides itself as the be all of the rule of law and democracy.

How can anyone explain the removal or suspension from office of a popularly elected leader by a subordinate structure on account of perceived lack of loyalty to the presidential candidate of the NPP?

Is it being suggested that the only condition for office holders keeping their position is their unquestioning loyalty to the presidential candidate?

What kind of a political party would the NPP be if this were the case?

From all indications, Mr Paul Afoko, the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party has been given a raw deal by the National Executive Committee which decided to suspend him.

 In the first instance, the allegations against him are frivolous and only go to show that he is a law abiding citizen who places his party‘s interest rightly within the context of the national good.

 One of the allegations against Afoko and for which he has been suspended is that he accepted an invitation from the police service to assist with investigations into a criminal complaint.

 What did the NEC of the NPP expect Paul Afoko to do? Refuse to co-operate with the police in a criminal investigation?

 Woow! Is this not a huge statement about the NPP’s own commitment to the so-called Rule of Law?

Paul Afoko is also accused of responding to baseless allegations made against him in the media. Did they expect that Paul Afoko would have kept quiet and allowed those malicious stories to fester to create conditions for his removal?

Indeed the most ridiculous of the bases for his suspension is that his younger brother is currently standing trial for the murder of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the NPP.

First, at this stage the brother of Paul Afoko can only be presumed innocent until proven guilty and this ought to be known by leaders of the NPP who profess to believe in the rule of law.

 Secondly, under no circumstances can Mr Paul Afoko be held responsible for the actions and inactions of any relative of his.

 The question is, would the NEC of the NPP based on the parity of reason take actions against party leaders whose brothers, sisters or relatives have been convicted of serious offences including drug smuggling and murder?

What has happened to the NPP is not just a palace coup but one in which reason has been turned upside down and the person who upholds the law have been victimized.

Mr Paul Afoko has most obviously been given a very raw deal.