Afoko lacks the stature to harm NPP - Esseku

Former national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Esseku has underscored attempts by Paul Afoko, the suspended national Chairman of the NPP to appeal the dismissal of his suit against the party is insignificant to the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.

An Accra Human Rights Court Monday dismissed Mr. Afoko’s challenge of the legality of his suspension by the NPP, explaining that he has no case. As a result, Mr. Afoko remains indefinitely suspended.

Mr. Afoko in a statement said he has instructed his counsel to study the judgment affirming his sanction, and to appeal “at the appropriate time.”

However, Speaking on Accra based Class FM Tuesday; Mr. Esseku said Mr. Afoko’s actions and inactions will not in any way jeopardize the chances of the NPP.

“My position on the matter is that Afoko’s departure will not do anything bad or anything which is not good to our party. He doesn’t have that stature [to harm the party],” he said.

He continued that the way he [Afoko] treated and behaved towards “us as Council of Elders [was not the best].”

“I believe every case involving Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong should have ended there. Even the suspension was indefinite, it wasn’t said it is definite…but right now I don’t see how Afoko’s behaviour towards us [can affect us],” he added.

The Northern regional Chairman of the NPP Daniel Bugri Naabu, said the party wants its suspended National Chairman, Paul Afoko back.

He urged Mr. Afoko to eschew pride and appologise to the party and pave the way for his return.

“We welcome what the court has done and that is the right decision. He took to the court and the court has demonstrated the right decision. He should apologise to the hierarchy of the party because the path he took was too bad,” Bugri Naabu said on Monday on Accra based Citi FM.

Lead counsel for the NPP Godfred Dame described Mr. Afoko’s resolve to appeal the dismissal of his suit against the party as “worrying”.

He said even though the party has no qualms whatsoever about Afoko’s quest to appeal the court’s judgment, it is simply “needless” and petty.

“…This indication by Mr. Afoko is very worrying,” he said.