CPP Central Committee rejects recommendations

The  recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to recall suspended General Secretary and National Youth Organiser have been rejected by highest body of the party,the  Central Committee.

The General Secretary, Nii Armah Akomfrah, and Youth Organiser, Ernesto Yeboah, were suspended after they made public statements that contradicted those of the party’s flag bearer, Mr Ivor Greenstreet, on President John Mahama’s Ford gift saga.

The two, who were subsequently referred to the Disciplinary Committee, have also been accused of engaging in several misdemeanours and behaviour contrary to the party’s position and constitution. 

 “Certain basic tenents of natural justice were not observed before the determination of the matter,” the Central Committee said.

The Communications Director of the party, Kadir Abdul Rauf Issifu, explained that  the disciplinary committee was only directed to “examine the issues that have been brought against the general secretary and the youth organiser and advise the Central Committee accordingly.”

Recommendation

According to him, the committee, chaired by Mr  Kwaw Ansah of TV Africa, was not tasked with making recommendations about whether or not the two should be reinstated.

“We declined to accept the report and we asked them to go back and ensure that due diligence is done on the matter before we can even entertain the report for discussion in the first place,” Mr Rauf Issifu stated.

Mr Rauf Issifu explained that the Legal Affairs Committee of the party had not even handed down charges but “before the Legal Affairs Committee of the party could hand down charges  against the general secretary and the youth organiser, the disciplinary committee of the party had already made a determination on the matter.”

Mr Rauf Issifu also confirmed that the suspended officers “will have to remain interdicted until such a time when due diligence is done on their matter’’.

Powerhouse

Elaborating on the rejection of the committee report, the National Chairman of CPP, Prof. Edmund Delle, said Mr  Yeboah decided to make himself a power- house with rigorous disrespect towards the constitution and the party's hierarchy.

 For instance,’’ we all woke up one day to notice that Ernest had  renamed the CPP Youth League as FIGHTERS,’’ the chairman stated.

 Prof. Delle said Mr Yeboah had also gone ahead to create a logo and a separate letterhead for the Youth League in an attempt to separate the Youth League  from the organs of the party ‘’just as we have seen Julius Malema of the ANC do, which led to his break-away with a majority of the youth to form his own party. “

 Concerning the general secretary, Prof. Delle said Nii Akomfrah sided with Mr Yeboah to always take contrary positions.

Solidarity

“Obviously, his actions were also  in solidarity with Samia Yaba Nkrumah's loss.’’ Prof. Delle stated.

 He said the constitution frowned  on being absent [from meetings] for more than three times and  whenever the party took positions and agreed on issues of development towards the 2016 general election, they rather chose to communicate differently to the press and painted the party as not effective and  with corrupt leaders.

 Prof. Delle said  anything that was not pro-Samia was anti-CPP and as a result Nii  Akomfrah was equally cautioned several times. The calls and complaints from the rank and file became too many; hence  a motion raised in a Central Committee meeting by a member of the leadership to suspend them and haul them before the disciplinary committee.