Obed’s DFP Collapses

Supporters of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), founded by Dr. Obed Asamoah, a former Attorney General in the Rawlings regime, have deserted the party in the Volta Region. The DFP members announced their defection to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a ceremony in HO, which was attended by top NDC party gurus from both the regional and the National headquarters.

The occasion was described by the NDC hierarchy in the region as dooms day for DFP, because the prodigal sons have realized their mistakes and have returned to their original fold. One hundred and thirty defectors from all the constituencies who claimed they were representing hundreds of DFP members who were ready to join the NDC but due to transportation problems could not make it to the ceremony were welcomed back to the party by executives of NDC.

Addressing the gathering, the Volta Regional Secretary of the DFP and the Spokesperson for the defectors, Mr Manfred Nuku-Dei, asked for forgiveness and assured the NDC of their unflinching loyalty and support for the party. He described the occasion as a solemn reuniting with their mother party.

Mr Nuku-Dei said the character of democratic welfare in the NDC, where everyone was his brother’s keeper, compelled the DFP members to vote for the NDC during the second round of the 2008 general elections, even though their leaders declared support for the NPP.

Mr Nuku-Dei assured the rank and file of the NDC, particularly the founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings, of their total commitment and devotion to duty in the party, as they have been doing ever since NDC was founded.

The Special aide to former President Rawlings and Deputy National Youth Organiser of the NDC, Mr Kofi Adams noted that in some cases, when a party wins elections, the leadership tend to scare the supporters away so that they share what he described as “booty” alone. But in the case of the NDC, it has rather embraced more people to the party. This, to him, is a sign of political maturity and tolerance.

Mr Adams advised supporters in the region to maintain a strong foundation at the polling stations. He noted that even though the NDC government had been in power for just six months, preparatory work must start now towards the 2012 elections.

He asked the party faithful not to forget the principles of the party and to stay together as one people. He warned them never to repeat the mistakes that led to divisions in the party. He urged the polling station executives not to scare potential members away, but to embrace everybody into the party.

Mr Adams, who commended the people of the region for their continuous support for the NDC pointed, out that it was clear the Volta Region contributed immensely towards the victory of the party in the last elections, and they had to uphold the high leadership qualities within the party at all levels.

A Presidential Staffer, Mr Ludwig Hlodze, said the party was aware of the capabilities of some of the returnees, who were organizers of the party in the past, noting that their presence in the party would help rebuild the NDC.

Mr Hlodze said President Evans Atta Mills was aware of the role of the party’s foot soldieries during the 2008 elections, and that the government would create opportunities that would make life comfortable for the people. He said NDC was repositioning itself to ensure that NPP would never assume the administration of the country again.