Atik Mohammed defies suspension to be at post

Embattled General Secretary of the Peoples’ National Congress, Atik Mohammed on Monday defied his suspension by the National Executive Committee and reported to work at the party’s headquarters in Accra.

Atik was suspended on Saturday, July 22, 2017 after an extraordinary National Executive Committee for “misconduct” which the party said has brought the image of the party into disrepute.

As of 10:20am on Monday, all the offices at the PNC headquarters in Accra were locked up. Barely an hour later, the embattled Atik Mohammed, walked into his office.

For him, the National Executive Committee does not have the powers to suspend the general secretary and chairman of the party.

He explained that Article 67 of the PNC constitution states that, in case of any misconduct, the officer in question would be referred to a disciplinary committee, whose findings would be approved by a standing committee.

He also indicated that in the case of a removal or suspension of a party official, Article 51 of PNC amended constitution requires the support of at least two-thirds of NEC.

He added that there ought to be an agenda to that effect.

Atik Mohammed however said the agenda for the NEC meeting held on Saturday, July 22 which eventually turned out to announce his “suspension” had to do with why Dr Edward Mahama accepted ambassadorial appointment without recourse to the party.

He further argued that the National Executive Committee of the party does not have the power to assess his performance in the last elections.