An aide to the New Patriotic Party presidential nominee has suggested the party will rope into its 2016 electioneering campaign, three of its national executives who were suspended for going against the party’s constitution.
According to Pius Enam Hadzidze, the three –Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe- have some influence, which the party can tap into for its 2016 campaign.
Speaking to 3FM’s Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah on whether the party was in talks with the three suspended executives, Mr Hadzidze who was evasive responded: “of course! Obviously, my expectation is that they would use that influence to the benefit of the NPP and to the betterment of Ghana”.
Mr Paul Afoko who was the national chairman of the party, 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.
General Secretary of the party, Mr Agyei Agyapong, and the second Vice Chairman, Mr Crabbe were also suspended indefinitely in December 2015 for undermining the party’s authority.
The two, who were not in favour of the decision to suspend Mr Afoko, were very critical of the party for that decision which somewhat led credence to claims of divisions within the party.
Both Mr Afoko and Mr Crabbe have since sought redress at the Court but were shot down. They wanted the High Court to order for their reinstatement on grounds of the decision being illegal but the court dismissed their applications.
They have since indicated they will appeal decision to dismiss their case.
All hands on deck campaign
But Mr Hadzidze told Afreh-Nuamah that the party’s presidential nominee, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has asked all party members to join in the campaign geared at winning this year’s December 7 general elections.
When asked if the party has been in talks with the three suspended executives, responded by saying “the party has been in talks with all its members to get them on the ground.
“The flag bearer is on record; he’s made several public pronouncements inviting all hands on deck and I think that the three [suspended executives] gentlemen will respond appropriately,” he said.
Mr Hadzidze said there is a “stated admission from Mr Paul Afoko, from Kwabena Agyepong, from Sammy Crabbe that what is happening in the country today is not good for children unborn.
NPP is ready to use everybody who is willing and capable and I know the gentlemen you have mentioned are willing and capable and I don’t see how anybody will stop Mr Paul Afoko from playing any role if he intends to play
“So I will be surprised that they [the suspended executives] will not want to play their part in making sure that we change government to bring Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” he stated.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter @steviekgh_TV3