NPP is experiencing a 'naked power' struggle - Political Scientist

A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Evans Aggrey Darko, has attributed recent wrangling in the New Patriotic Party to what he calls the exercise of 'naked power' within the party.

According to him, party members have recently been interested in their own personal gains than the overall interest of the party due to suspicions they have for one another.

Speaking to Pulse.com.gh, the political science lecturer said "What we have seen at least the last one year is accusations and the exercise of what I call naked power within the party, where there is so much suspicion, there is so much mistrust, not operating within the principle of reciprocity. I think there are some people who are more interested in their own personal position in the party than the overall interest of the party".

Dr. Aggrey has, however, charged leadership of NPP to ensure that supporters of suspended chairman, Paul Afoko are absorbed into the mainstream affairs of the party.

He believed failure to do so would spell doom for the party in the upcoming 2016 elections, considering what he describes as an incumbency advantage for the current president in power.

"If you (NPP) are not able to manage these groups very well, they can destabilize the party. So either you co-opt them or put them at a place where their presence will not be of any use to the party. So what the party must do, for me because we are in a democratic party, I will not go for a situation where they are punished; I will go for situations where they are co-opted; they are spoken to," he added.

The NPP's National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday unanimously voted to suspend its National Chairman, Paul Afoko indefinitely.

Confirming the news toPulse.com.gh after the NEC meeting, National Organiser of the NPP, Mr. John Boadu said “the decision takes effect immediately”.

He also said the First Vice Chairman of the party is acting as the National Chairman for now.

The party’s decision follows a petition by Council of Elders to the Disciplinary committee of the party asking Afoko to step aside for working against the interest of the party.

But, the suspended National Chairman, Paul Afoko, in a statement, has said he is still at post and has asked the public to disregard the notice of his suspension by the party, adding that no illegal NEC can suspend him.

Meanwhile, three members of the New NPP have sued the party, its flag-bearer and 28 others including former president John Kufuor over the decision to suspend the party's chairman, Paul Afoko.

The motion, scheduled to be heard on Friday, October 30, prayed the court to restrain the party and the 29 individuals, their agents, assigns among others from convening a meeting of the NEC to take disciplinary action against Mr. Afoko until a substantive case they have filed at the court is finally determined.