Suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party [NPP], Paul Afoko, has filed an appeal seeking to quash the decision by the Accra High Court endorsing his suspension by the party.
The High Court presided over by Justice Anthony Yeboah on August 15 upheld the suspension of Mr Afoko by the NPP’s National Executive Council, which Mr Afoko sought to challenge on grounds that it was procedurally wrong per the party’s constitution.
The court declined to reinstate Mr Afoko as the party’s chairman because it held the party’s NEC acted lawfully by adopting the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee to suspend Mr Afoko.
Dissatisfied with the court’s judgement, Mr Afoko hinted of an appeal consequent to which he on Monday, August 22 filled a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal in Accra to challenge the judgement.
“The appeal is against the whole decision of the trial High Court,” a statement issued by Mr. Afoko’s spokesman, Nana Yaw Osei said, adding “several grounds of appeal will be canvassed at the Court of Appeal.
Background
Mr Afoko was suspended indefinitely in a unanimous vote by the Party’s National Executive Committee on October 23, 2015 at the back of a demand made by the National Council of Elders of the party in September.
But in October 2015, he filed a suit at the High Court challenging his suspension. He had sought his reinstatement grounding his argument on claims that his suspension was procedurally wrong per the party’s constitution.
Mr Afoko’s suspension received backlash from the ranks and file of the party, with some describing it as unconstitutional, in view of the NEC meeting at which the decision was taken.
Mr Paul Afoko had prior to that been criticized for making public comments on the party’s finances, a practice some party officials said was against laid down rules.
In a letter, the NEC demanded “a thorough investigation into the actions of the National Chairman which clearly constitutes a breach of the party’s constitution, an appropriate recommendation to promote discipline, order, harmony and progress in the party towards the 2016 polls, and at least a suspension of Chairman Afoko from office until after the 2016 elections.”
But Mr Afoko challenged the events that culminated in his suspension maintaining that the party erred in taking the said decision.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|GHana
Twitter @steviekgh_TV3
