The Human Rights Court Judge Justice Anthony Yeboah who is hearing the case of suspended national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Paul Awentomi Afoko and the NPP has called the bluff of parties in the case.
According to the Judge, though he has discussed with the parties the issues set out for trial to ensure speedy hearing of the case, the line of questioning by counsel for the defendant and the manner the applicant also responds to questions defeat the purpose for which the issues were set out for trial.
The judge said he anticipates that the losing party will appeal the verdict and wants to expedite action to ensure that whoever loses the case will have ample time to appeal.
While expressing his appointment for the last time, he said, “I am not going to force anyone. I will indulge you. I am not going to push anybody. I can only advise you and not compel you”.
DRAMA OVER LATENESS
When the case was called at 11:00 am for the cross-examination of Mr. Afoko to continue, Lawyer Godfred Yeboah Dame for the NPP was not in and when the judge enquired from Mr. Baffour Awuah who was representing Mr. Freddy Blay and NPP, he said the lawyer was coming.
Justice Yeboah instantly reminded the witness, Mr. Afoko of his former oath and discharged him saying “ I don’t indulge the witness in lateness . I discharge the witness, no further cross-exanimation.”
When the judge enquired from Mr. Sarfo Boabeng, lawyer for Mr Afoko if they have any more witness, the lawyer said they have two more but were not present in court.
Eight minutes later, Counsel for the defendant arrived and told the court he was caught up in traffic and the judge asked Mr. Afoko to resume the witness box to the surprise of those gathered in the courtroom.
EXPERIENCES
Under cross- examination, Mr. Afoko told the court that though until his election as the national chairman, he was never a member of the National Council (NC) ; he had over nine years of experience with the party to be conversant with the party’s convention, saying , “ I was also a representative at the NC of the Upper East Region”.
When Mr. Dame also suggested to him that he was not involved in the organizational structure and architecture of the party in order to know the convention of the NPP, Mr. Afoko replied to the negative saying,” that is not correct. Apart from being an activist, I was a member and I served at national finance committee for four years and went on to serve at the national council for another four years.
Those times I served I had considerable insight and experience of conventions of the party.”
APPOINTMENT TO NC
He told the court when asked that he was appointed onto the national council, in 2010 and served for four years, but when it was further suggested to him that he was never a member of NC prior to his election, he replied, “I was and still I am”
Again, when counsel referred him to the NPP constitution (pages 38 and 39 paragraph 3) regarding regional representative on the NC, it was suggested to him that the constitution does not permit the appointment of regional representatives onto the NC, but .Mr, Affoko refuted that claim, saying “the convention at the time was that these were appointed positions and if we want to stick to the letter of the law here, then all regional representatives will not qualify for the NC.
<<Print>>