July 5 2015
Chairman of the NPP Disciplinary Committee Most reverend Samuel Asante Antwi who is testifying as a witness for the defendants in the case between National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party Paul Afoko versus the NPP& Freddie Blay had earlier hoped to keep under his hat some secrets but later, he gave the game away as he opened up a striking revelation in court, yesterday at the Accra High Court in the Law Courts Complex.
One learned Lawyer present in court elucidated that, ” National Disciplinary Committee is a standing committee of the National Council. They don’t just wake up from their beds and start considering petitions, No. Their activities is subject to the review of the party’s National Council which is an appellate body and the parent body so for the witness to make such arrogant comment, is disturbingly bizarre and unfortunate considering the position he occupies. The party’s constitution in article 4 states explicitly that “one representative of the parliamentary group” be submitted to the National Council for appointment and approval. In view of the fact that, the Disciplinary Committee is a standing committee of National Council, when there is a need for replacement of any member, it is the natural obligation of the National Council which is the parent body to do so and to instruct by means of communication to the Disciplinary Committee. In any case, the National Chairman convenes and chairs all National Council meetings and several others in line with the constitution. If he and the party’s National Council never received any copy of such questionable letter from Minority leader, how does the Disciplinary committee acts in ultra vires to illegally import Honorable Gifty Kusi unto the Disciplinary Committee at the blindside of the National Chairman and National Council? This is a breach of native intelligence. why would such a man in a holy robe have the temerity to desecrate the constitution of an institution with such degree of impunity? It is sad ”
The National Chairman Paul Afoko had earlier in his “viva voce” evidence established that, the first time he sighted that questionably forethought letter from Minority Leader was just at the beginning of the matter in court. In paragraph two of his witness statement, Asante Antwi has indicated that, “the plaintiff was the subject instituted to the National Disciplinary committee from September 2015 to October 2015.” When asked to read his own statement, Asante Antwi stated he couldn’t find it clearly. Justice Anthony Yeboah took a look at the statement and asked Asante Antwi to answer; Asante Antwi , this time begin to give a long and winding answer in his attempt to be evasive and dodgy. This stands to reason that, the Disciplinary Committee was only interested in persecuting the office of the National Chairman with frivolous petitions.
Considering the revelations from Asante Antwi, one would realize that , possibly, the party’s Disciplinary committee is unfairly a puppet body, determined to sack the party’s National Chairman Paul Afoko for his independent mindedness.
Rev. Asante-Antwi, a PhD holder also created the impression that he did not know whether Mr. Paul Afoko, the elected National Chairman of the party had been removed as a chairman or as a member of the party. This man could not answer any question directly and kept wandering about the ‘bush’. The next witness for the Defendants is Peter MacManu, a former national chairman of the NPP. Case adjourned to July 15.
Source: Weekly Guide Newspaper
