[ 2016-05-10 ]

Afoko gives evidence against NPP
Mr. Paul Afoko, the suspended New Patriotic Party
(NPP) Chairman, on Monday gave his evidence in
chief in the suit he filed challenging his
suspension by the party, at an Accra Human Rights
Court.

He told the court that he knew the defendants in
the case, the NPP, as a registered political party
in Ghana and Mr Freddy Blay as the first Vice
Chairman of the party, adding that he had a
relationship with the NPP as the elected National
Chairman.

He said he filed a witness statement in the suit
on March 22, and would wish to tender same as his
evidence in chief, concluding his evidence.

During cross examination, Counsel for the
Defendants, Mr Godwin Odame, asked whether Mr
Afoko was at any of the disciplinary committee
proceedings, and he answered that he was not at
any of the proceedings because he had legal
representation during all the proceedings.

He said he received full briefing from his
lawyers who were always in attendance and received
all correspondence as well, and relied on same.

Mr Afoko, when asked whether he received the
first letter on October 2, 2015 to appear before
the committee on October 6, 2015, said he received
the letter but that was not the first invitation
to the disciplinary committee, saying the first
letter was in respect of one Alhaji Aminu and one
Alhaji Yerimea.

When asked whether he was aware that on October
10, 2015, when his lawyers appeared before the
committee, they indicated that he was ill and the
case was adjourned at their instance, he answered
in the affirmative saying he not being present
before the committee did not prevent the
proceedings from going on.

“My lawyers went specifically to raise
objections to the sitting of the committee on the
matter. The adjournment to the best of my
understanding was not because of my absence but
for the committee to pronounce on the preliminary
legal objections raised”.

Mr Odame said there was no preliminary objection
pending to be ruled on by the committee on October
12, 2015, because the said objection was filed on
the afternoon of October 12, 2015. But Mr Afoko
explained that there was an objection pending
before the committee on the first hearing.

“The committee still had the initial objection
pending which they did not pronounce on. And so
the objection filed on October, 12, 2015 was the
second preliminary objection filed. The petition
was on the basis on which I was suspended and the
same as the committee’s decision.” he said.

Mr Afoko however noted that he could not tell the
court, when any of the said petitions were
determined by the Council of Elders because he was
waiting for the determination of the preliminary
objections.

“I can only add that the only determination I
received was when I received a letter from the
Deputy General Secretary that I had been suspended
with immediate effect.”

When asked why his lawyers told the committee
that he wanted the proceedings to be held at a
hotel because he was afraid of the entrance of the
party headquarters, Mr Afoko said even though he
had full legal representation, and the committee
could sit without his presence he decided he would
make himself available on the said day for the
proceedings.

He said “ but information I gathered was that a
group of thugs who described themselves as the
invisible forces had been brought to come to the
party'”s headquarters annex where the
proceedings were taking place to physically
attacked me. I therefore through my lawyers
informed the committee that if they required my
presence so badly then I would wish we meet at a
location that I felt safe”.

The court later adjourned hearing to May 12, for
continuation of cross examination.

Mr Afoko is challenging his indefinite suspension
from the party, arguing it is illegal. The NPP’s
National Executive Committee suspended him in
October 2015 for “misconduct.”

According to him, the action and processes
leading to his suspension by some elements of the
party were unconstitutional and a breach of
natural justice.

The decision was adopted by the party’s
National Council, which is the second highest
decision making body of the party after congress
but he maintained the party erred in the decision.

Source - GNA

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