Mahama Can�t Dismiss Haruna Over Treasury Bills- Atik Mohammed
General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), has reacted to news surrounding the dismissal of Mr. Haruna Mohammed from the party.
Mr. Haruna Mohammed, a deputy General Secretary of the PNC has been accused of pitching the public against officials when he reported his National Treasurer to the police for investigation over some unaccounted for party funds without due permission.
The act, was considered offensive by the 2016 Presidential for the PNC and this formed the basis for his from the party.
However, Atik Mohammed, the General Secretary of the PNC has stated in a statement sent to Peacefmonline.com that dismissal of a member cannot be done by one person or group of persons without recourse to party structures.
He explains that “any such attempt in fact and in law, amounts to a violation of the party’s constitution”.
Full statement below…
Dismissal Of Mr Haruna Mohammed; Deputy General Secretary
1.It has come to the attention of the office of the General Secretary that, the Leader of the party issued a statement dismissing an Executive Officer i.e. (Deputy General Secretary) of the party for the following reasons;
a.That the said officer allegedly reported the National Treasurer to the police for investigation over some unaccounted for party funds without due permission.
b.And that he allegedly accused the Leader and caused same to be published of using resources meant for the party to buy Treasury Bills.
2.I like to state that, the action of the said Officer in respect of (b) above, was distasteful deserving of condemnation, probe and possible sanction according to the constitution of the People’s National Convention. Be that as it may, I discussed with the National Chairman regarding what ought to be done and steps were being taken in that regard.
3.It must however be clearly communicated that, the decision of dismissal as published by the Leader, runs counter to the laws of the party and therefore cannot have the effect of law.
The PNC is governed by a constitution that clearly spells out the powers and functions of party Officers and Organs. Article 14 (b) among others stipulates that , one shall cease to be a member if “ He/She is dismissed in accordance with the provisions of Article 67.
And Article 67 (1a) states “There shall be established a National Party disciplinary Committee which shall have original jurisdiction in all matters relating to the conduct of any organ or individual member of the Party.” It further in 67(2) and (3) indicates grounds that can invite sanctions including disregard for party discipline.
Article 7 (d) as amended in 2015, also clearly spells out a member’s action that amounts to breach of party discipline which can result in dismissal. It states “A member of the Party shall be guilty of a breach of Party discipline if he seeks redress outside the Party’s legal structures for any grievance without first exhausting the procedures laid down in this Constitution, including an appeal to the supreme National Delegates Congress of the Party.
Any member of the party who disagrees with or is aggrieved by any decision of congress may seek redress on that decision within 21 days after congress, failure to do so after 21 days he or she is barred from pursuing that issue for redress either within the internal party structures or outside it.
A member seeking redress shall do so outside the party’s structures only when he/she has exhausted all avenues provided for in the constitution.”
More importantly, Article 44 (d) speaking to the functions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) clearly states “It shall be responsible for enforcing this Constitution and all other rules, regulations, standing orders and bye-laws of the party.
It shall have power to take, through the Standing Committee, any action it deems necessary for such purposes, whether by way of a dissolution or suspension of a branch of the party or suspension or expulsion of an individual member of the Party. Any such action taken by the National Executive Committee shall be reported to the next meeting of the National Party Congress, to which appeal shall lie.”
4.From the foregoing and consistent with party practices, dismissal of a member cannot be done by one person or group of persons without recourse to party structures. Any such attempt in fact and in law, amounts to a violation of the party’s constitution.
I therefore want to state that, the said dismissal as widely published is inconsistent with the party’s constitution and to the extent of this inconsistency is null and void and cannot have any effect.
5.Nonetheless, I want to assure members of the party that, leadership will not take lightly the accusation leveled on the person of our Leader. We revere our Leader and will not allow any public ridicule brought to his name without basis.
Hence, we will investigate and take the Officer through the procedures of the party and when found guilty, we shall not hesitate to mete out the appropriate sanctions including the possibility of a dismissal. The PNC values and has always worked towards deepening internal democracy. We assure all Ghanaians that we will continue to deepen this culture even as we seek to correct purported wrongs.
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