AFOKO’S BOMBSHELL; He may reveal Damming Information Soon

NPP National Chairman, Paul Afoko

Mr Paul Afoko the disputed National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party says that there are important facts he does not want to reveal now.

According to him, at a latter and convenient date, the world will get to know about some shocking facts and developments.

In an interview on TV3’s current affairs programme “Hot Issues” Mr Afoko claimed to have given substantial assistance to Nana Akufo Addo.

When pressed to reveal the  quantum of assistance, he simply said “not now”.

Mr Afoko said beyond his opponent’s resistance to reform in the party there are other facts that he may make public at a later date.

He claimed that there is an unstated reason why some elements in the NPP are determined to disrespect the mandate of the party congress.

One of the reforms he claimed to have introduced in the party is that money for  organizational work ought to be released to the constituencies directly instead of making them available to national and regional officers.

Mr Afoko said he also wanted the party to operate only one bank account so he could keep an eye on the finances of the party.

Unfortunately, he alleged that some party leaders resurrected a dormant account and diverted monies into it without his approval and that of organs of the party.

Mr Afoko said those who have been scheming to remove him as National Chairman started their plots long before the Congress which elected him was convened.

“First, they alleged that I was a homosexual and then they said that I had been convicted of a drug offense” he said.

Mr Afoko said the formal structures of the party were used to vilify him and subvert his effort to become party chairman.

He did not shy away from his friendship with former President J.A Kufuor saying that “if friendship with President Kufuor is a crime then I plead guilty”.

He disclosed that former President Kufuor has asked him to remain calm and to pray hard.

Editorial

Lowering the tempo

A number of the New Patriotic Party leaders have made no secret about their distrust of the Electoral Commission.

In itself, being on one’s guard cannot be faulted but it can be carried to extents that can become dangerous.

For instance, some leaders have outlined unilateral measure they intend to take to protect their interests, including arrogating to themselves functions which are not theirs.

It does not take much to predict that if politicians go ahead to allocate to themselves any function that they choose without regard to the law and established rules, the consequences can be dangerous to the country.

We have at least 10 months to go before the November general elections so there’s more than ample time to establish ground rules that will help all of us secure reliable but peaceful elections.

There are already mechanisms, including the inter-party meetings with the EC to iron out areas of uncertainty and disagreement.

The issue with such dialogues is not to please particular parties or individuals, but to arrive at consensual agreements that give all some degree of assurance.

That is why the showmanship by some politicians boasting about what they will do is not helpful. It only invites counter responses which adds to create tension as we advance towards the elections.

We do not want to believe that this is what those proclaiming to have extra muscular abilities to obtain results they want, are aiming for.

It is a fact however that threats and macho posturing will not frighten anyone from giving up seeking the people’s mandate. So the sensible thing to do is to ensure dialogue in an atmosphere of calmness and transparency.

We have come this far in our multi party process, but we cannot take anything for granted. Too much posturing can take us to where we do not intend to go.