NPP in solidarity with Sir John, Hopeson

The women’s wing of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday gathered at the party headquarters in Accra to pray for their party's General Secretary and one of their communicators, who have been summoned by the Supreme Court judges.

The mass prayer by the NPP women was one of several events being held by the party supporters in solidarity with its General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie and party communications team member, Hopeson Adorye, who have been asked to appear before the court today over contemptuous comments.

In the Ashanti Region, party executives later yesterday were also expected to hold a vigil but the police there indicated they  had not been officially informed.

However, Police Public Relations Officer of the region, ASP Mohamed Yusif Tanko, said they were prepared to offer protection for the vigil.

In the Central Region, a similar vigil was planned for yesterday evening.

Meanwhile the National Executive of the NPP said they were in full support of all the planned gatherings.

At the party headquarters in Accra, some of the women, who spoke to the media, pleaded with the judges to have mercy on the two party stalwarts who had been summoned to appear before the Supreme Court today.

"The Bible tells us that they that put their trust in the Lord, they shall never fail...so we know that God will do it...they [NPP executives] should put their trust in the Lord", one of the women who had converged on the headquarters for the prayer session said.

Also, party executives have been dismissing fears that the numerous events being held across the country in solidarity with the Kwadwo Owusu-Afrieyie and Hopeson Adorye could heighten tension.

NPP Youth Organiser, Anthony Karbo, said though there were some minor apprehensions within the party, they were confident events would turn out for good.

Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, Anthony Karbo noted, is a very important personality within the party,  saying his importance to the rank and file of the party is the reason for the numerous solidarity events across the county.

Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, and Hopeson Adorye, have been formally summoned to appear before the Supreme Court on August 14, 2013 to answer contempt charges.

The summons, dated August 9, 2013 and jointly signed by the presiding judge of the nine-member panel hearing the presidential election petition, Justice William Atuguba, and James Mensah, registrar of the Supreme Court, are asking the two to show why they “should not to be committed to prison for contempt of this court for scandalising the court, lowering the authority and credibility of this court in the eyes of the general public and exciting hatred and ill-will towards the first and second respondents herein”.

In a press statement, signed by Ms Kate Gyamfua, Tina Mensah,  Joyce Zempare and Alberta Ansah all women organisers of the NPP, the National Women’s wing of NPP appealed to the nine judges of the Supreme Court to temper justice with mercy as two leading members of the party appear before them today for contempt charges.

According to the women’s group, it was women and children that suffered most when there was instability in the country.

“At this crucial time of our fragile democracy, and for peace to prevail, the justices must temper justice with mercy,”  the statement said.

Source: Daily Graphic