Tarzan rejects suspension letter, but Akomea says suspension still holds

Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akomea has said the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party followed due process before reaching the decision to suspend one of its members, Dr Charles Yves Wereko-Brobby.

According to him, Dr Wereko-Brobby’s decision to reject the letter containing his suspension notice does not invalidate the action taken by the NEC.

Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, in an interview with Joy FM, an Accra based radio station on Monday said he rejected a letter purported to have contained his suspension which had been sent to his house on behalf of the party.

He explained he refused to accept the letter because it had “illegal” contents.

The letter addressed to Dr. Wereko-Brobby, dated May 31, 2013 and signed by Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Abdulai Fuhlanba said Dr Wereko-Brobby had breached Article 3D (duties of a member) I, II, III and IV of the party’s constitution.

However, speaking on Joy FM Tuesday, Dr Wereko-Brobby said he refused the letter because the party failed to follow due process.

“They must write formally to me, and establish the disciplinary process. And at that point, if you want to suspend, you suspend,” he said.

In his view, the party executives have also breached the party’s constitution, explaining that the party must first of all write to him and invite him to the disciplinary committee before any action is taken.

He said so long as due process was not followed, “I still consider myself a member of the NPP and even if they suspend me, it’s not going to stop me from giving my views and from doing things that are in the interest of the party.”

Dr Wereko-Brobby described the situation as “an argument of convenience”.

He said some party members in the past have openly expressed themselves and shared their views on matters that affected the party and nothig happened to them.

"People have commented copiously and continue to comment copiously,” he said and explained that when he was called before the disciplinary committee, “maybe I will give them a list of who else has gone astray and be dragged in the same net as me.”

Meanwhile, Communications Director of the party, Nana Akomea has said even though he (Dr Wereko-Brobby) has rejected the letter, it does not invalidate the action taken by the NEC on Friday.

“The decision was to have him appear before the disciplinary committee because his recent utterances bring the party into disrepute and that he has not upheld the duties of a member of the NPP.”

When host Kojo Oppong Nkrumah brought his attention to the claims made by Dr Wereko-Brobby that he had not appear before the disciplinary committee and for that the suspension did not hold, Nana Akomea explained prior to being called before the disciplinary committee, the party may suspend a member pending the disciplinary hearing and all of this has to be conveyed in writing.

He noted that, the disciplinary committee would further write to Dr Wereko-Brobby.

Story: Jasmine Arku/Graphic.com.gh

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