Wereko-Brobby suspended for 2 years from NPP
The National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has imposed a two-year ban on Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, a founder-member of the party for exhibiting behaviour that put the party's image into disrepute.
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The Director of Communications of the NPP, Nana Akomea who confirmed the suspension expressed worry that the decision of the party had been leaked even before Dr Wereko-Brobby was officially informed.
The New Statesman newspaper of Tuesday July 9, 2013 reported that Dr Wereko-Brobby was to write an apology letter within one week for bringing the name of the party into disrepute.
For the two years that his membership will be suspended, he is to further refrain from making any disparaging remarks about the party, the Statesman newspaper reported.
The punishment was meted out after the party's National Executive Committee received the report of the Disciplinary Committee of the party.
Dr Wereko-Brobby, it is recalled, made derogatory remarks about the party's decision to challenge the outcome of the 2012 presidential election at the Supreme Court through several publications in the print and online media outlets.
The disciplinary committee was chaired by Most Rev Dr Samuel Asante Antwi. It had Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Gladys Asmah, R. O Solomon, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, Opare Hammond, Ken Wuud and Sharika Abdulai as some of its members.
Speaking on Joy FM Tuesday morning, Nana Akomea said, “the decision of the party has not gone to Dr Brobby but I can confirm to you that the decision has been taken”.
He however refused to confirm the two-year suspension, “because the letter has not gone to Dr Brobby, it would be difficult for me to confirm what exactly the decision is on the disciplinary action”.
Asked whether Dr Wereko-Brobby was being punished because he had spoken on party issues outside, Nana Akomea said, “I don’t believe Dr Brobby is being punished because he spoke outside the party, many people speak on issues on the party outside and this is not the first time Dr Brobby has spoken on party issues outside”.
“It is what you say and if what you say brings the party into disrepute, then the party is within its right to take a decision if what you say breaches the duties of a member of the party”.
“You have the right to speak outside the party if that is what you want to do but if what you say brings the party into disrepute even if you speak it inside the party, you can be subjected to disciplinary action proceedings.”
Nana Akomea said the party would issue an apology to Dr Brobby arguing that the decision leaked because the National Executive Committee was a quite a large body and one or two people might have mentioned something to somebody.
Responding, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby said the development follows a pattern.
“Everything is decided and put out in the public domain, it is a total lack of respect, lack of decorum. There is total lack of due process, so it was not surprising".
He said Nana Akomea’s apology was “per functionary… just saying it for saying sake”.
Asked if he had any reaction to the decision of the party, he said, “I have no reaction at all, it is not going to change the price of bread or how I view things, it is rather going to make it easier for me to express my views on matters”.
He said he expected to resume his membership when the party “had put together a credible leadership... I don’t think we have a credible leadership".
Graphic.com.gh / Ghana