Trial of Afoko’s suit against NPP starts

The Accra Human Rights Court hearing the suit filed by Paul Afoko, the suspended New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, challenging his suspension by the party, has set May 9 for trial on the suit to begin.

The court presided over by Justice Anthony Yeboah adjourned the case after the pre-trial where evidence that were not of any relevance to the case were expunged.

Earlier, during the pre-trial, counsel for the NPP, Mr Godwin Odame told the court that he had received the witness statement from the plaintiffs but would object to some exhibits in the statement.

He said four of the exhibits, one of which was a letter from Mr Martin Kpebu had no relevant bearing to the substantial case, and prayed the court to exempt it from the witness statement during trial.

Counsel for Mr Afoko, Mr Osafo Boabeng was, however, not opposed to the claim by his opponent and as such agreed to the objection.

The court then ruled that those four exhibits should be expunged from the witness statement and would be detached from the statements during the trial.

He, therefore, adjourned the matter to May 9.

The Court also set May12, May 13, May 17, May 18 and May 19 as dates for the trial.

Mr Afoko is challenging his indefinite suspension from the party, arguing it is illegal. The NPP’s National Executive Committee suspended him in October 2015 for “misconduct.”

According to him, the action and processes leading to his suspension by some elements of the party were unconstitutional and a breach of natural justice.

The decision was adopted by the party’s National Council, which is the second highest decision making body of the party after congress but he maintained the party erred in the decision.

Source: GNA