Opare Hammond threatens to sue NPP

A former Director of Finance and Administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Opare Hammond, has threatened to drag the party’s leadership to court if his name is not cleared of financial malpractices.

Hammond and the acting Director of Communications, Perry Okudzeto, were asked to proceed on leave by the new leadership of the party.

The former Adentan MP has been accused by the Paul Afoko-led administration of corruption while in office.

Hammond has vehemently denied the financial malfeasance allegations wants the party leadership to exonerate him. He threatens to sue the party if his demand is not met.

“I am calling on the National Council of Elders to, as quickly as possible, bring the matter to finality,” Hammond told Accra-based Citi FM. “I am just calling on them that they should take up the matter, they should settle the matter, as quickly as possible, between now and Friday. If they can settle this matter, I will be very glad so that I can have my name cleared.”

The Constitutional and Legal Committee of the largest opposition party has described their dismissal as “improper” and an “anomaly” and thus called for the reinstatement of the two officers. However, the party’s general secretary Kwabena Agyepong said they would not budge.

Hammond added: “He [Agyepong] swore an oath that he was going to use the constitution of the party to work. Now he sits there and says that he wouldn’t recognise a national council body like the Constitutional and Legal Committee and their opinion, that is up to him.”

“I have given time and time again and I am only trying to use the channel that is available to me in the party’s constitution. I don’t want to go beyond that, and then very soon I will fight the party and the people in court.

“I have tried as someone who is a staunch member of the NPP and loves the party. I have tried since the beginning of this issue, I’ve tried to use the appropriate channels and they have dragged this issue up till now,” Hammond stated.