A former flagbearer candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, has observed that until the police implicate the National Chairman of the elephant family, Paul Afoko and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, in the death of the late Adams Mahama, the two cannot be compelled to step aside.
Osei-Ameyaw, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Asuogyamang Constituency said “for now, there is no evidence to implicate the two” and therefore, urged the party faithful and sympathizers to remain calm.
Osei-Ameyaw made this observation in an exclusive interview on Kasapa FM’s current affairs programme Si Me So, hosted by Kwaku Owusu Adjei Frimpong.
According to the legislator, as a party that believes in the rule of law, it was important to dispel any perception linking Mr. Afoko and Agyepong to the death of the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the party and deal with the hard facts if any.
“We don’t work with perceptions like it appears… no, we don’t stand on it to make decisions. It doesn’t work like that”, he fumed.
He added “stepping aside should not be done on the basis of it appears… it should be done on the basis of facts”.
Mr. Afoko and Agyepong are currently under fire from some stalwarts of the NPP to step aside until investigations into the murder of Adams Mahama are concluded.
Mr. Adams died last Thursday, May 21, 2015, after he was attacked with acid by some assailants.
Mr. Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyei Agyapong have been blamed by some supporters of the party over events that happened prior to the death of the regional chairman.
The two were reportedly chased out of Bolgatanga when they tried to meet the regional executives for some discussions without the notice of Adams Mahama.
Brother of the National Chairman, Gregory Afoko, has been arrested in the connection with the death Adams. He has since been charged with murder. Another suspect is said to be on the run. NPP executives in nine regions of the country have so far petitioned the National Council of the elephant family to immediately direct the two leaders to step aside until investigations into the death of Adams are concluded.
The Council of Elders of NPP in a letter dated May 25, 2015, affirmed that position and advised the two leaders to step aside “pending the conclusion of investigation into the murder of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the party”.
“The Council of Elders believes that on the basis of your commitment to the success of the party in the forthcoming national elections and of your sincerity in the promotion of the general welfare of the party and nation, you would respect both the spirit and letter of advice given.”
Two days ago, the party’s caucus in Parliament also joined the fray. In a nine point letter signed by the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the group said it was advisable for the two to step aside in the interest of the party.
“That in the circumstances, the two national officers be requested, in the interest of peace, unity, trust and stability in the party, to step aside to allow for an impartial investigation into these matters especially the gruesome murder of Mr Adam Mahama, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),” they observed.
But Mr. Osei-Ameyaw said the NPP would be doing themselves a great disservice if it compels the party Chairman and General Secretary to step aside without having any evidence to buttress their claim.
“If we have any evidence contrary to the police, we should hand it over to them to pursue it. If we have gathered such evidence against the two within the party, then we can base our argument on the evidence that because of this, it will be better for you to step aside”, he said.
Nonetheless, he said the letter that was issued by the Minority Leader was not the general position of NPP MPs.
In his view, the issue of Mr. Afoko and Agyepong to step aside never came up in their closed-doors deliberations last Tuesday.
By: Stephen Odoi-Larbi/Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana
