Hundreds of supporters of the suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, besieged the party’s headquarters on Thursday to demand his reinstatement.
The supporters say they are unhappy with the decision to suspend Afoko and want him reinstated. They also asked the party to allow Mr. Kwabena Agyepong to operate as the General Secretary without interference.
Citi News’ Duke Opoku Mensah who was at the party’s headquarters reported that the about 200 supporters claiming to be members of the NPP, are believed to have been bused to the premises.
Duke indicated that the protesters were holding placards with inscriptions such as “Freddie Blay is not our Chairman”, “Afoko should be reinstated”.
He reported of a heavy police presence in the area to maintain law and order.
“About 7 policemen and 8 police vehicles are guarding a barricade, whiles the main entrance of the NPP headquarters has been locked.”
The group , in a petition presented by Abu Yussif, a former Wa Central Constituency Chairman of the NPP , demanded the following:
- The immediate reversal of the decision to suspend Paul Afoko
That the party allows him [Afoko] to discharge his duties fully as prescribed by the constitution
The disbandment of members and officials causing mayhem in the party
That former President Kufuor, Nana Akufo Addo,Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyepong and other executives call a meeting to design a roadmap for party reconciliation and cohesion.
Receiving the petition on the party’s behalf, the Director of Protocol, Kwadwo Antwi Adjei said “I have received your petition and I will forward it to the appropriate quarters for action.”
This incident comes days after the leadership of the NPP constituency executives in Yendi disassociated itself from a lobby group believed to be spearheading the protest.
Meanwhile a High Court judge on Wednesday dismissed a petition in which a member of the NPP, Oppong Kyekyeku, was seeking to challenge the processes that led to Mr. Afoko’s suspension.
The judge upheld the argument of the NPP that the plaintiff ought to have exhausted internal party structures to get his grievances addressed.
