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The chickens are coming home to roost as two Regional Executive Members of the New Patriotic Party have strongly debunked claims by suspended NPP National Chairman, Paul Awentami Afoko that he (Afoko) expressed his disgust and admonished party members “to leave the hotel immediately and go home” relative to the NPP / Serbian training program in July 2014.

In separate interviews with Kwame Appiah Kodua, Eastern Regional NPP Organizer and Isaac Seidu, Upper West NPP Organizer, the duo expressed shock at the claims by Mr. Afoko and described them as “ridiculous”.

The two Executives said Mr. Afoko officially opened the program and promised that there “would be more of such programs to equip us win power at the polls”.

“The program was officially opened by the National Chairman (Afoko) and the General Secretary (Kwabena Agyepong). The General Secretary spoke first after which Mr. Afoko took over”, the Eastern Regional NPP Organizer told The New Crusading GUIDE in an interview.

“While Mr. Agyepong dwelt on sacrifices we as Executives had to make for the party, Mr. Afoko talked about the importance  of such training programs”, he added.

“Indeed Mr. Afoko told us that the training was part of series of training programs outlined for us and so we should treat it with all seriousness”, he stressed.

Mr. Kodua who expressed utter shock at the claim by Mr. Afoko that the training was aimed at “taking power in the streets”, said the program “WAS TO EQUIP US ON HOW TO MOBILIZE THE GRASSROOTS, SHAPE OUR COMMUNICATION STYLE, IDENTIFY OPINIONS LEADERS AMONG OTHERS”.

“AT NO POINT DID MR. AFOKO ADMONISH US “TO LEAVE THE HOTEL IMMEDIATELY AND GO HOME”. IT NEVER HAPPENED”, he reiterated.

He continued that “after Mr. Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong officially opened the training, they both left and Mr. Freddie Blay took over”.

“Indeed when they entered the conference room, there were programs on the high table for that so them claim is ridiculous”.

On his part, Isaac Seidu who is the Upper West Regional Organiser of the NPP explained that he took part in the training session and at no point did he witness that sad spectacle as narrated by Mr. Afoko. “LOOK MY BROTHER, IT IS A COMPLETE FALSEHOOD THAT HE IS PERPETUATING. NOTHING OF THAT SORT HAPPENED”

He recalled that the first two days of the program were dedicated to the Regional Secretaries and Regional Organizers “and fortunately, they are all alive so we should not allow Mr. Afoko to throw dust into the eyes of the public”, he charged

“Indeed Mr. Afoko and Mr Agyepong entered the hall together after which John Boadu who doubled as the MC for the program formally welcomed and introduced them”, he recalled.

He added that “Mr. Afoko was even not happy that some Regional Executives were not present because we were the engine of the party. He was very happy with the program so his claim is a shocker to me”, Mr. Seidu stated.

The narration by the two Regional Executives is in sharp contrast with what the suspended NPP National Chairman told the Africawatch Magazine in its April edition. In the said interview, Mr Afoko in part said:

"Let me tell you this story. A few months after taking office in 2014, I was at a church service at the Ridge Church for the late Gladys Asmah. Our National Women’s Organizer, Otiko Djaba, came in very late and I made way for her to sit beside me. I asked her how she could be so late and she said “Chairman, are you not aware that we are camped at a hotel at Mile 7 in Achimota for training by the Serbians? All Regional Organizers, Women organizers, youth organizers, and Nasara coordinators are under- going training by the Serbians.

..I said, “what, what’s going on? I don’t know anything about it. My blood started boiling. I asked her who brought the Serbians into the country, and what was the training about? She became quiet.

“Immediately after the church service, I asked Djaba to take me to the hotel where they were camped and I asked General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong to join us.

“When we got to the hotel, I saw our people all over the place with two Serbians, a man and a woman, but I was told the Serbians were four and that two had left. I walked in and saw the National Organizer, John Boadu, and I asked him what was going on. He was holding a piece of paper, and I snatched the paper out of his hands. It was the training contents and I was shocked to my bones at what I was reading.

“THESE PEOPLE WERE OUT OF THEIR MINDS. THEY WANTED TO WIN THE ELECTIONS ON THE STREETS OF GHANA AND NOT AT THE BALLOT BOX. THAT’S THE MILITANCY I AM TALKING ABOUT. I TOLD THEM THAT, I PAUL AFOKO, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NPP, WOULD NEVER ALLOW THEM TO TAKE THE PARTY ON THAT CRAZY ROUTE.

“IN THE PRESENCE OF THE TWO SERBIANS, I ADMONISHED OUR PARTY PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM TO LEAVE THE HOTEL IMMEDIATELY AND GO HOME”.

It is however curious to see pictures of Mr. Afoko with smiles beaming on his face as he entered the training session and greeted some NPP members present. He was also captured on camera seated on the high table alongside the party General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong and the two Serbians.

 

Please stay tuned as the evidence relative to Mr. Paul Afoko’s presence and submission at the NPP/Serbians Event in July 2014 unfold…