It might come as a shock but it is true. The National Chairman and 2016 presidential aspirant of the United Progressive Party (UPP) have been shown the exit. A unanimous decision was reached by the National Executive Committee (NEC) making the dismissal of Akwasi Addai Odike, the national women’s organizer and national treasurer very official.
“We respectfully write to the Electoral Commission (EC) that Akwasi Addai Odike, Emmanuel Adjei Akrong and Nana Ama Serwaa have been dismissed from the Party and from their executive positions in accordance with Article 28 and 29 and Article 16(subsection 3) of the Party constitution”, acting General Secretary, Gabriel Asamoah-Boakye penned in a letter to the EC.
The meeting to dismiss Mr. Odike and his counterparts was reached on March 18 and subsequently adopted on March 23, 2016.
Amongst the myriad of allegations plastered against Mr. Odike were corruption, nepotism, lack of transparency, gross incompetence, and financial malpractices. It was alleged that he banked on his personality and position as national chairman and presidential aspirant to cut corners and bully his way through the party structures.
Aside these damning allegations, the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman brought to the attention of NEC Mr. Odike’s gross disrespect for the party structures and the imposition of his family members and cronies on the party.
What is more, the executives were appalled at Mr. Odike’s general attitude towards party activities and his total ineptitude and ineffectiveness in performing his mandatory duties and responsibilities.
After the 1st National Vice Chair, Alhaji Bashiru Zakari, had suggested that the NEC demanded accountability from the chairman, another member, Bukari Ishahaku Kuoro, dragged the national treasurer and the national women’s organizer in the mud with the flagbearer over allegations of financial malpractices and the trio’s inability to account for certain monies withdrawn.
Thorough investigation and careful observation were employed in the events mounting up to the dismissal of Mr. Odike and his cronies. Alhaji Zakari, who also acts as a convener for the Disciplinary Committee (DC) first reported the issue to NEC and subsequently suggested a suspension or outright dismissal of the trio to the party after he had observed countless cases of misconduct and gross disrespect to the NEC, DC and the Party itself from the flagbearer especially, and the other two national officers.
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