Sammy Crabbe, former Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has described the 2015 suspensions of himself, former National Chairman Paul Afoko, and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong as a “coup d’état” against the party’s constitutional processes.
In an exclusive interview with Asempa FM monitored by Kumasimail, Crabbe stated, “They did a coup against us. It was not just a coup against me, but I feel it was a coup against Mr. Afoko, the National Chairman, and Kwabena Agyapong.”
He emphasized that the party leadership did not follow the proper procedures outlined in the NPP constitution, weakening the party’s internal democracy.
Crabbe explained that, according to Article 11 of the NPP constitution, only a national congress has the authority to remove an elected officer, and such a decision requires a two-thirds majority.
He argued that the suspension process was flawed, as a small group just five people petitioning the disciplinary committee led to the removal of officials elected by thousands of delegates.
“When what they did happens, it weakens the party, but you won’t see it immediately,” Crabbe said.
“How can someone elected by over 5,000 people be removed by just a few? This is why the party is weak right now. The current leaders don’t mind, but someone who respects himself and has standards will not contest for an election in our party under these circumstances.”
Crabbe also accused the party of using regional or ethnic lines to target suspended officials.
“They are very predictable. For Afoko’s petition, they used two northerners; for Kwabena Agyapong, two Asantes. For me, they used two Ga people to petition against me,” he said.
“One of my alleged crimes was that I spoke against the party, and the other was that I developed a database platform for issuing party cards that will raise funds through dues.”
He defended the database project, noting that it had received approval from the Steering Committee, Finance Committee, and National Executive Committee, and was officially launched by the Chairman and General Secretary.
“It was a visionary thing, but they didn’t understand. They said the thing I developed was a reason to my suspension. Can you imagine.”Crabbe stated.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
