Suspended
Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Paul Awentami Afoko, may have
called the bluff of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) AGAIN
by turning up at the ongoing public forum on the voters register being
organised by the Electoral Commission (EC) in his capacity as National
Chairman; but the opposition party says the embattled Chair is not part
of their OFFICIAL representatives.
NPP's General Secretary,
Kwabena Agyei Agyepong had earlier told the media that the beleaguered
Mr Afoko will lead the opposition party's team at the forum.
All
those who matter in the electoral process are at Alisa Hotel where the
question political parties and election experts are attempting to answer
in the two-day debate on the way forward for the electoral register is
'should the voters’ register be maintained as it is, modified or changed
altogether?.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) wants a new voters’ register.
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) wants the current register maintained.
The
Progressive People’s Party (PPP), as usual, has come up with the most
sensible suggestion. They want the National Identification Card system
completed so that we will have a uniform and credible register, with the
national ID as the basis. For instance, the NPP are alleging that there
are a lot of foreigners on the current voters’ register. If the
national identification system is used, this problem will be solved. It
will also ensure that people don’t lie about their age in order to vote.
The age one gives will determine when one will go on retirement etc.
But
it seems the PPP’s suggestion will not be implemented because we think
it will take rocket science to get the National Identification Authority
(NIA) to complete that exercise before next year’s election. So the
main argument is whether there should be a new voters register or not,
or how the current register should be cleaned up.
Mr Afoko,
hell-bent on holding himself out as National Chairman, has served notice
he will be challenging NEC's decision in court.
The embattled
Chairman, it would be recalled, declared himself still at post and even
issued a statement last Tuesday congratulating Ivorian leader, Allasane
Quattara, on his re-election for a second term in office.
It therefore came as no surprise to some when he stormed the event's grounds dressed in his usual flamboyant smock.
But in what appears to be a direct rebuff of his (Afoko's) actions, the largest opposition party says he (Afoko) was not part of NPP's official representatives at the forum ad therefore cannot be said to be the leader of the NPP's team at the event.
A press release purportedly signed by Perry Okudzeto, Deputy Communications Director, issued Thursday, and cited on the facebook
walls of Kofi Agyepong (NPP Communications Directorate, Gh) and Nana
Ansah Obofour (NPP UK Communications Officer) listed the names of the
party's representatives at the forum as; Former National Chairman
Peter Mac Manu, General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong, NPP Director of
Elections Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Member of Parliament for Akuapem
South Constituency and former deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Osei
Bonsu Amoah and National Organiser John Boadu.
According to the statement, "the
Directorate will also like to bring to the attention of the public
that, former Chairman Mr. Paul Afoko was not part of the party’s
official representatives.
Mr. Paul Afoko, Haruna Esseku, Appiah Menkah and other members were however present at the forum to offer their support.
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