Afoko not joining NPP’s campaign – Spokesperson

The suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has no intention of joining the campaign of the party ahead of the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections until he is reinstated, Nana Yaw Osei, his aide, has said.

His comment follows a statement purportedly issued by Mr Afoko on Thursday October 13, calling on all supporters of the NPP and Ghanaians in general to support Mr Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the NPP, to be the next president of Ghana.

Speaking in an interview with Accra News on Friday October 14, Mr Osei denied that Mr Afoko had issued such a statement, saying, if it were coming from the camp of Mr Afoko, it would have been signed by either Mr Afoko himself or his aide.

He said: “Whoever issued the statement is not known by Mr Afoko. Some people within the party are yearning to see Mr Afoko on the campaign trail because they know his support will further strengthen the party, but let me put it on record that Mr Afoko, until he is reinstated, is not joining the campaign trail.”

He added: “All the things that were said about him leading to his suspension were lies and the party must come out to clear his name. Until that is done, he is not joining the campaign.”

Mr Afoko was suspended by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP for allegedly working to undermine the party's chances of winning the December 7 elections.

He challenged the legality of his suspension but the Human Rights Court in Accra upheld the NEC’s decision to suspend him.

He has appealed against the ruling.