10 POLITICIANS WHO WERE SUSPENDED BY THEIR POLITICAL PARTIES

It may not be unusual for political parties to enforce stringent measures against their top members, including indefinite suspensions.

However, the circumstances and controversies which come thereafter sometimes evokes the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian.

Following the rather unexpected suspension of the former Central Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Allotey Jacobs last week, GhanaWeb in this article reminds Ghanaians of some known personalities who have been subjected to similar punishments.

ALLOTEY JACOBS

The new name to be added to the rather long list of political figures who have tasted the resentful grips of suspension is the former NDC central regional chairman, Bernard Allotey Jacobs.

According to the NDC, the suspension of the party’s stalwart became necessary as he, on several occasions on radio, engaged in what they described as “persistent anti-party conduct”.

PAUL AFOKO

Perhaps one of the most controversial news to break in the country in 2015. The suspension of the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was the result of a national executive emergency meeting after violent clashes erupted between suspected party security men and rival ‘macho men’ at the party’s headquarters.

This happened at a time the party was in opposition and soliciting support from Ghanaians ahead of the 2016 general elections. His suspension further deepened intra-party disputes as he hurled the NPP to court in December that same year to challenge the decision. It was reported that Mr Afoko had allegedly been working to undermine the party’s fortunes in the December polls.


KWABENA AGYEI AGYAPONG

One of the persons who suffered the ripple effect of Paul Afoko’s suspension was then General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyapong who was also ousted for openly calling the bluff of the party’s decision to suspend the then chairman.

His open defence for Mr Afoko was deemed as a contravention to the party’s constitution, precisely Article 3(d). Since his suspension however, Mr Agyapong has on several occasions expressed his deep sentiments about his former job.

SAMMY CRABBE

Completing the trinity of suspended national executives of the NPP in 2015 is Sammy Crabbe.

The former Second Vice Chairman of the NPP was also ousted for making utterances that were deemed injurious to the chances of the then-opposition party’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

However, in 2018, Sammy Crabbe launched his bid to contest for party’s chairmanship race. After intraparty discrepancies over his eligibility, he voluntarily pulled out of the race and has since gone into ‘hibernation’.

DR NYAHO NYAHO TAMAKLOE

Founding member of the NPP, Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe received his suspension letter from the party’s leadership in 2016.


He was suspended because some of his past comments concerning the party were considered unsavoury and a breach of some provisions of the NPP.

He confirmed his suspension by saying: “I have been suspended indefinitely, that is true. I got a letter to that effect”.

SAM GEORGE

Yes! Sam George has ever been suspended from the NDC.

This may come as a surprise to several people who may not be privy to circumstances leading to his suspension.

The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram constituency was suspended after being accused of misconduct which brought his party’s name to disrepute. He was accused of physically attacking some party executives at the regional secretariat during the NDC’s parliamentary primary on November 21, 2015.

NII AMASAH NAMOALE

Calling some executive members of the NDC “fraudsters and pickpockets” earned him a resentful suspension from his party.

Nii Amasah Namoale’s suspension from the party was announced together with Sam George’s.

The party’s letter announcing the suspensions read in part; “The Regional Party and its Executives find this act as an affront to democracy and attempt to drag the party’s image into disrepute. These anti-Party conducts or activities has embarrassed the party and has brought the Party into hatred, ridicule and contempt; hence, must not go unpunished in order to protect the sanctity of Article 40 (8b) and 41 (3a) of the party’s constitution.”

However, their suspension was later reviewed by the party.

ATIK MOHAMMED

General Secretary of the People’s National Convention, Atik Mohammed, earned a suspension in 2017 after a barrage of criticisms against 2016 flag bearer of the party, Dr Edward Mahama for accepting the role of an ambassador at large in the Akufo-Addo government.

It was reported that Mr Mohammed did not survive a vote of no confidence by the National Executive Committee of the PNC.

Atik Mohammed despite the controversy remains the General Secretary of the PNC.

KOFI ADAMS

On March 23, 2012, Kofi Adams was suspended from all NDC related activities after he was reportedly heard in a leaked tape plotting to undermine the chances of the NDC claiming victory in the 2012 elections with Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the NPP. The decision was annulled after investigations failed to implicate him of any wrongdoing.


EKOW EWUSI

First Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Horace Ekow Ewusi was also suspended indefinitely from the NPP for what the party described as “gross misconduct”. The decision on his suspension was taken on July 31, 2019. The former vice-chairman was also caught up in the over missing excavators scandal shortly after his suspension.