<<Print>>

It is emerging that the Vetting Committee of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), failed to do due diligence regarding the background of aspirants, vying for various executive positions in the party. A typical example is the ex-Supreme Court convict, Hopeson Yaovi Adorye, who is aspiring for the National Organizer position of the party. Mr. Adorye, has epitomized political violence in Ghana. Since 2011, he has visited brutality on his political opponents in the studios of radio stations in Accra and Kumasi, yet has been cleared by the Vetting Committee to unseat Alhaji Moctar Bamba, the incumbent National Organizer. The ex-member of National Democratic Congress (NDC), has threatened and actually slapped his opponents mainly from his former party. Mr. Adorye, during a radio discussion last year, declared he and others in the NPP were going to behead NDC supporters, should the Supreme Court hearing the Election Petition give judgment in favour of the NDC. He had issued the threat, while arguing with Gabby Asumeng, a member of the communication team of the ruling NDC. This threat was what led him and the NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, to appear before the Supreme Court to answer contempt charges. Mr. Adorye, who hails from Atiavi in the Volta Region, in a radio debate in Kumasi, angrily charged on an opponent, Donkor Fuseini, slapping him many times. Mr. Fuseini was an officer of Ejura-Sekyere District Assembly, and had gone to the station in Kumasi for a political discussion. The case was reported to the Kumasi police, but before Mr. Adorye�s arrest could be effected, he had fled Kumasi to Accra. The Herald�s surveillance on Mr. Adorye�s campaign so far, took this paper to his Facebook fun page, where he has written �April 12th is the day, the venue is Tamale and the candidate is Hopeson Yaovi Adorye�join the winning team and let�s wrestle power together by force come 2016, Obiaa Nye Obiaaa�, once again demonstrating his violence. On the same page, he described himself as the �Commander of the Foot Soldiers of the party� contesting for National Organizer. Mr. Adorye, once a member of the ruling NDC lived and worked closely under a serving Volta Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Kpone- Katamanso Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo. The Herald�s information is that the Minister continued to financially support Mr. Adorye to an extent of renting rooms for him to put up. Political watchers are shocked that Mr. Adorye with his violent background will be allowed by the Vetting Committee to become a National Organizer. The Vetting Committee, chaired by C. K. Tedem, with Rev. Dr Asante Antwi, Dr Adjei Bawuah, Brig. Gen. Joseph Odei (rtd) and Mr. Kwabena Sarpong as members. Others are: Madam Cecelia Dapaah, Mrs. Catherine Afeku, Mr Ayikoi Otoo and Mr. Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah as Secretary, has placed Mr. Paul Afoko�s clearance to become NPP National Chairman on hold, saying he is being investigated over a narcotic drug-related issue.