My appeal is to protect future of NPP - Afoko

The suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Paul Afoko has defended his decision to appeal a recent High Court ruling that affirmed his suspension.

Spokesperson for Afoko argued that the decision to appeal the ruling was to protect the constitution and future of the party.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic newspaper, his spokesperson, Nana Yaw Osei, said the appeal is not all about Afoko.

The legal team of the NPP, however, said it was the right of the suspended national chairman of the party to appeal the decision, but it was up to him to prove to the Court of Appeal that the verdict of the High Court was faulty.

However, the lead Counsel of the NPP, Godfred Dame, has described the move by the suspended National Chairman of the party, as “worrying.”

“I do not have any qualms or whatsoever about the fight not being over. As far as I am concerned, the suspension of Mr Afoko has been declared lawful by the High Court. Now a greater burden is on him to convince the court of appeal about the irregularities of the decision taken today. This indication by Mr Afoko is very worrying. It is very worrying…” he disclosed.

Afoko last Tuesday filed an appeal at the Court, challenging the decision of the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court to affirm his suspension by the party.

Afoko has been in court challenging a suspension handed down to him by the NPP’s Disciplinary Committee for alleged misconduct.

The suspended Chair had earlier described his suspension as unconstitutional and a breach of natural justice.

But the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court on Monday, August 15, 2016, dismissed the suit.