Uneasy calm at NPP headquarters
The appointment of Mr Opare Hammond as the Director of Finance and Administration at the national secretariat of the party has been terminated.
According to Mr Hammond, no justifiable reasons were assigned when he was invited by the General Secretary of the party, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, to the office of the National Chairman, Mr Paul Afoko, on Friday after working hours and told verbally to hand over to Mr Edward Tetteh with immediate effect.
Narrating his story to the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview, Mr Hammond said he did not agree to their directive, since he did not want to condone any unconstitutional, illegal and dictatorial action taken by the national chairman and the general secretary of the party to dismiss him.
Appointment
Mr Hammond said he was appointed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and his appointment letter was signed by Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, otherwise known as Sir John, the then General Secretary of the party.
He said he had not been sacked by the NEC, explaining that Article 9 (f) (ii) states that “The National Secretariat shall consist of the General Secretary, the National Organiser, the Director of Finance, the Director of Communications, the Director of Campaign Strategy and other such personnel as the National Executive Committee may appoint”.
While Article 9 (f) (iii) says “The remuneration, terms and conditions of service of the General Secretary and other personnel of the National Secretariat shall be determined by the National Chairperson with the approval of the National Executive Committee”
No authority
Mr Hammond opined that the national chairman and general secretary had no authority to appoint or terminate the appointment of a director without the National Executive Committee’s approval.
“This is an attempt to use unconstitutional means to terminate my appointment and I will not agree. I still remain the Director of Finance and Administration,” Mr Hammond stressed
Mr Hammond, who used to be the Member of Parliament for Adenta, noted that “I was appointed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. I was not appointed by either Sir John or Jake to be dismissed verbally by the chairman”.
Mr Hammond, who insisted he would go to the office today and perform his duties, said the NPP’s constitution had spelt out clearly how he could be appointed and fired.
Surprise
He expressed surprise at the behaviour of the chairman, especially when he had in the past two months worked to the best of his ability and diligently with the new executive.
“I was surprised at the chairman’s action, as well as that of Tetteh, the campaign manager of the general secretary prior to the national executive conference in Tamale.
The NEC of the party is expected to hold a meeting today, and sources close to the body indicated that the issue was likely to feature at the meeting.
Uneasy calm
Meanwhile, there is uneasy calm at the national headquarters of the NPP concerning the appointment of some deputies to assist the general secretary, the director of communication and the women’s organiser.
