I doubt Afoko will be pardoned - Prof. Mike Oquaye

The Chairman of Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Prof. Mike Oquaye has stated that he cannot personally tell if suspended National Chairman of the party Paul Afoko will be pardoned by its Council of elders.

A Human Rights court on Monday dismissed a case filed by Mr. Afoko against the NPP challenging his suspension in 2015 by its National Executive Committee (NEC) with recommendation from the Disciplinary Committee.

The Spokesperson of the embattled chairman Nana Yaw Osei said his boss will appeal the case.

But speaking on Ultimate breakfast show hosted by Lantam Papanko, Professor Mike Oquaye explained that they have not breached any law in suspending Mr. Afoko.

‘We know that so many people do not have good intention about the party, the NPP went by the rule of law and did not breach any aspect of well-established principles, the NPP did it work well in accordance with the constitution, and the law we operate with enjoins all party members,’ he said.

According to him, Mr. Afoko is entitled to pursue the case further by appealing to the court.

‘He is entitled to appeal if that is his preference, time will tell, it’s the constitutional rights of every Ghanaian to appeal,… the party will continue to work to win power,’ he stated.

He indicated that sanity has prevailed ever since some members of the party suspended him.

Asked if the party has been vindicated, he replied ‘There has been real peace in the party for a long time, every Ghanaian, observer knows, all those things about police coming to our party offices, because of this because of that is no more, and its unheard of since 1992 and its no more happening’.

He failed to admit that Mr. Afoko is the cause of the party’s internal squabbles.

Prof. Oquaye said the party is focused on restoring investor confidence and the development of the country.

‘We are not going back to major minors, we are majoring with the majors, and not major with minors, how our people will go to school, eat, the lives of women, this is our problem, this is what we are seeking to major in at the moment. We are presenting the hope of the NPP and not any individual person.

Anyone who resigns today, the party will go on, let us major in the majors. You cannot force a horse to drink no matter how you manage to get it to the river side, can two walk together unless they agree,’ he said.

He suggested that party members who find themselves in such a fix should be considered in the future when they show remorse.