Mac Manu testifies in court
Mr Peter Mac Manu, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP, says he does not know any member of the National Disciplinary Committee of the Party.
He told the Accra Human Rights Court: “My Lord l doesn’t know any of the members of the committee.”
The court adopted, the witness statement filed by the defence witness on April 7 as his evidence in chief for the purposes of the trial.
Mr Manu, who was under cross examination, when asked whether, he knew Dr Addo Kufuor as a member of the committee, he said: “My Lord l am not aware.”
He denied minutes of a meeting presented as an exhibit to court as a result of a joint meeting between the National Council and the National Executive Council, saying it does not reflect the outcome of the meeting.
“My Lord, these minutes do not reflect what actually happened at the meeting. There are not mentions of contributions from members at the meeting,” he added.
He told the court that the minute does not have the signature of the General Secretary, indicating per the NPP constitution all minutes needs the signature.
“I have been a chairman of the party before and there was no time, myself and the General Secretary have not signed minutes of meeting,” he said.
He said the counsel should not under estimate the function and role of the National Council, since it is the second highest authority of conference of the party and the General Secretary is the head of the National Secretariat.
When asked, whether the plaintiff was suspended as an officer of the party or a member, the witness said he was suspended as an officer and not a member.
He explained that one derives its offices position of being a member and one also needed to be a member to become an officer.
“The suspended chairman is still a member of the party,” he added.
He said in 2005, a national chairman was suspended but he continued to be a member of the party.
The court has directed the two parties to file their written addresses within seven days, after which a date would be fixed for judgement.
The case was adjourned to July 26.
Mr Afoko is challenging his indefinite suspension from the party, arguing it was illegal. The NPP’s National Executive Committee suspended him in October 2015 for “misconduct.” of which the National Council of the party later endorsed, which the second highest decision is making body of the party after congress.
According to him, the action and processes leading to his suspension by the party were unconstitutional and a breach of natural justice.
Source: GNA