6 -1: Demands for Afoko, Agyepong’s resignation intensify

Three more regions have met and demanded the resignation of New Patriotic Party (NPP) national Chairman Paul Afoko and General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong.

The three – Western, Upper West and Greater Accra regions have joined the Volta, Central and Eastern regions to try and oust the two national officers whom they say have not brought peace and tranquility in the since their election.

The NPP is facing an uphill task to unite after a tragic acid attack of the Upper East regional chairman Adams Mahama set off another round of internal party wranglings.

In the Western region, Joynews correspondent Kweku Owusu Peprah reports that the executive members of the party met Monday to petition the National Council against the continued stay of the two national executives in office.

Paul Afoko [left] and Kwabena Agyepong [right]
“It was unanimously agreed”, the Western regional General Secretary Charles Bissiw confirmed, saying “since the national chairman and General Secretary took over affairs of the party there hasn’t been any tranquility.”

The Regional General Secretary says although the regional executives do not believe Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong are behind the murder of Adams Mahama, there is the need “to detach issues of criminality” from the party.

In the Upper West region, the 1st Regional Vice Chairman, Hafiz Bin Salih confirmed to Joy News that the 15 members of the regional executive committee agreed to the petition against the embattled executives.

The regional leadership is petitioning three bodies, the National Council, the National Executive Committee and the National Council of Elders to appeal to Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong to resign.

The executives believe their resignations will allow the two to “concentrate on gaining back their reputation”, Hafiz Bin Sali explained.

Greater Accra regional chairman, Ishmael Ashittey, is also appealing to the National Council, National Executive Committee and National Council of Elders to appeal to the troubled two to step aside.

NPP Greater Accra Chairman Ishmael Ashittey
“These people came into office they have not been able to hold any single fruitful meeting to come out with policies and strategies that those of us below can use to build the party”, he explained.

Ishmael Ashittey says an “escalation” of internal wranglings could damage the party’s chances in 2016 hence the need for the two to step aside.

The NPP Greater Accra region says they have given the three relevant bodies three weeks to act on the petition.

The Northern regional branch of the NPP is currently meeting to take a position on the resignation calls.

Regional correspondent Hashmin Mohammed has reported that the atmosphere at the Tamale sports stadium where the meeting is being held is “emotionally charged”.

The Ashanti region and Upper East (where Adams Mahama was chairman) are yet to take a stand on the issue. The Brong Ahafo region Monday voted against the calls for the resignation of the two.

Former NPP General Secretary Nana Ohene Ntow argues that the constitutional provisions on the removal of a national officer is not being followed.

Ohene Ntow
It would take at least five weeks to remove the two and a formal communication of the reasons for their removal must be presented to the said national officer.

The embattled executive will also need to be given the chance to explain himself before by a body constituted by the Executive Committee.

But the 1st National Chairman of the Upper West NPP, Hafiz Bin Salih, maintains the meetings are not meant to pass a vote of no confidence on the two embattled leaders.

He said the meetings are to put pressure on the two officers to answer the “call of their conscience”.

“For now I don’t think that we are impeaching them, what we are doing is to call on their conscience for them to step aside on their own volition”, he explained.

The National Executive Committee is expected to meet this week to consider the calls for the resignation of Messrs Afoko And Agyepong.

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Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|posted by EA


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