NPP to Expel Appiah-Ofori

HE HAPPY-GO-LUCKY Member of Parliament for Asikuma Odoben-Brakwa, P.C. Appiah-Ofori, faces a likely expulsion from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over his nauseating allegation that Parliamentarians on the party’s ticket were paid $5,000 each to vote for the sale of Ghana Telecom shares to Vodafone. The NPP leadership, obviously vexed with the allegation, would tomorrow hold a National Steering Committee meeting over the issue after which decisions taken would be forwarded to the party’s Disciplinary Committee for immediate action.

NPP General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, told DAILY GUIDE yesterday that the party is “shocked” at the allegation which he describes as “an outright dirty lie” that does not only injure the image of the party but as well indicts the integrity and reputation of Ghana’s Parliament.

He said Appiah-Ofori may be expelled from the party indefinitely if the Disciplinary Committee finds that his misconduct merits that sanction and if his being expelled would lead to a bye-election, so be it.

“The level of indiscretion that has been displayed by the man is shocking and it questions his level of trustworthiness.

“This man had earlier made this allegation through a letter to then Chief of Staff but found out it is not true so he apologizes and withdraws the letter only for him to turn round to repackage, refurbish, rewrite and remake the same allegation as if it were a new thing.

This is a lie he had already apologized for and we are shocked at his conduct,” Ohene Ntow added.

Over the same issue, Dr. Charles Brempong Yeboah, a former MP, and Ofosu Ampofo, incumbent MP for Kade constituency, have sued Mr. Appiah-Ofori, together with the Enquirer, the paper which first broke the story and its editor, Raymond Archer.

The two plaintiffs are demanding punitive damages of GH¢100,000, general damages for defamation, a retraction of the story and a perpetual injunction to restrain the defendants from any further publication of the allegation.

In their statement of claim, Messers Brempong Yeboah and Ofosu Asamoah said they are both Members of Parliament on the ticket of the NPP and that they voted for the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone but did not receive any money for that; be it $5,000 or its equivalent.

They added that after the publication of the allegation, Mr. Appiah-Ofori spoke to a number of radio stations, including Peace FM, to repeat the claim and defend his position, therefore causing some more damage to the reputation of the accused Parliamentarians.

Plaintiffs said the allegation from Appiah-Ofori is false and an erroneous one which has created an impression that they are a bunch of corrupt, unconscionable perpetrators of illegality.

Meanwhile, Appiah Ofori has told a number of media houses that his allegation is based on hearsay.

He has been dragged before the Privileges Committee of Parliament, and persons he mentioned as having told him about the said $5,000 saga have denied being responsible for the allegation.

P.C. Appiah-Ofori, after making the wild allegation, travelled outside the country for an agriculture fair.

By Halifax Ansah-Addo