Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to handle the controversy surrounding former Environment Minister Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng strictly within the framework of the rule of law to avoid perceptions of victimisation or gagging.

The comments come amid heightened tensions between Prof. Frimpong-Boateng and the NPP leadership following a series of public statements in which the former minister described the party as “fake” and accused its current leadership of abandoning its founding values.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s in an interview on The Point of View on Channel One  TV on Monday January 12, described the NPP as a “fake party” and stated that the party was not as before.

The NPP, through its General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua condemned the former minister’s remarks, describing them as highly reprehensible and inconsistent with the party’s values.

The party has also rejected allegations that its 2023 presidential primary was manipulated in favour of then Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, describing the claims as unsubstantiated.

Despite the party confirming that it has begun processes to expel him, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has insisted he has no intention of leaving the NPP. He has also said he will not honour any invitation to appear before the party’s National Executive Committee or Disciplinary Committee.

Reacting to the party’s decision to initiate expulsion proceedings against Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, Dr. Asah-Asante in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News on Tuesday January 13,  said the former minister should be given a fair opportunity to appear before the appropriate party body responsible for enforcing discipline and conduct.

He noted that due process is critical if the NPP wants any eventual decision to be credible and defensible in the eyes of both party members and the wider public.

“Looking at whatever the professor has said, he should be given an opportunity to speak with a body that is in charge of the conduct of members of the party. After that, the rule of law should be applied,” Dr. Asah-Asante said.

He cautioned that any action taken outside established procedures could easily be misconstrued as an attempt to silence dissenting voices within the party.

“Anything outside this will be misconstrued to be something else, such as gagging one or the rest of them. It is in the interest of the party to walk the professor through the rule of law so that at the end of the day, whatever decision comes out, people can stand up, defend it and own it,” he added.