The Central region branch of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has defended the suspension of the party’s First Vice-Chairman, Ekow Ewusi.

In a statement, the party attributed the suspension to what it described as gross indiscipline exhibited by the Vice-Chairman.

“It was on the basis of this gross indiscipline exhibited by Mr. Ewusi that the Regional Chairman directed the Regional Secretary to refer Mr. Ewusi’s refusal to respect, honour and respond to the party letters and directives.

Mr Ewusi was suspended by the Chairman, after he refused to respond to a petition by one Edward Okraku Adum, who accused him of engaging in criminal acts including drug peddling.

He was also accused of escaping from prison in the UK as well as illegally auctioning seized excavators from mining sites.

The Regional Vice-Chairman is said to have asked the Chairman to produce the said petitioner to authenticate his claim before he responds to the claims which he agreed to do within a week.

He, however, did not fulfil his side of the agreement, leaving the party’s regional executives displeased.

They then suspended Mr Ewusi indefinitely and referred him to the Regional Disciplinary Committee of the party to further probe the matter.

While a group claiming affiliation to the party has criticised the decision and demanded Mr Ewusi’s reinstatement, the party said the Committee is clothed with the powers to investigate all party issues bordering on indiscipline and anything that has the potential to bring the party’s good name into disrepute.

“Even with the president of the land who is a member of the party, if he errs and the issue is referred to a Disciplinary Committee, the president will be duty-bound to honour that invitation because no member of the party is bigger than the party and more so each officer of the party has sworn an oath to respect party structures and decisions and also to do things to protect the party’s image.”

Angry party youth on rampage

Meanwhile, the party is on a manhunt for some persons who stormed the Central region office and vandalised property.

The group, Concerned Members of NPP, have been demanding the reinstatement of Mr. Ewusi. They say the Vice-Chairman was unfairly treated.  

This is the second time they have demanded Mr Ewusi’s reinstatement, only that time around, they decided to take the law into their own hands.

They stormed the party’s office after a demonstration in Cape Coast and smashed all the glazed windows.

The party has condemned the actions of the individuals.

“We have never witnessed this kind of violence in our party,” the statement said, adding “we call on all officials, members and supporters to adhere to party rules and decisions as we are not going to countenance any kind of indiscipline on the part of any party officer or member in the region.”