Barely four days after receiving its provisional certificate as a political party, the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has struck a fatal blow to its ancestor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the latter’s Volta Region stronghold, generally referred to as its “World Bank”, by snatching two former Members of Parliament (MPs), Emil Kwadwo Brantuo and Kwadwo Gyefuor.
In its latest political onslaught, the DFP has swept along its track, a former Provisional National Defence (PNDC) Secretary for the Volta Region, Dr Francis Agble who, alongside the afore-mentioned MPs, is a founding member of a number of districts in the region.
According to a confidential list that has fallen into the hands of Daily Guide, whereas Dr Francis Agble represents Hohoe as founding member, the two former MPs, Hon Brantuo who was a legislator from 19922-2000, and Hon Kwadwo Gyefuor, who was NDC MP from 1992-1996, are for Jasikan and Krachi West respectively.
A former regional propaganda secretary for the NDC in the region, Mr Simon Adza Yawo represents North Dayi.
For the Kadjebi district, Johnson Robert Dabo, a former Regional Vice Chairman who resigned after the ill-fated Koforidua Congress, is the founding member.
A former Deputy Regional Youth Organizer and former Regional Youth Organizer as well as constituency chairman for Ave-Avenor, Mr Tony D Klutse, is a new convert and represents Akatsi as a founding member.
The Nkwanta district has Stephen Mamene Angye, and Mr Gamor who is a regional representative on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the DFP, was the Ho East Constituency Chairman for the NDC from 2001-2005. He also resigned after the Koforidua congress.
Ketu has Sebastian Bright Afenya, Sogakope, Samuel Kofi Apedo, a former CPP Constituency Chairman and for Adidome, Anthony Cudjoe Hogane.
Others are Albert Kofi Ayitan, Adaklu Anyigbe, Silas Yuiah, South Dayi, Michael Kwaku Dei, Krachi East and Theodora A. Quist, Keta.
This major thrust into the heart of the NDC by the DFP, shows the party gradually making good its promise of dismantling the NDC.
Shortly after receiving its provisional certificate, the DFP leadership and some of its supporters turned up at the party’s headquarters at North Kaneshie, where the interim chairman, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Isakah said the event was to celebrate the receipt of a provisional certificate. He said the DFP intends to introduce a new face and image to politics, “providing a paradigm shift in our national life and economic development agenda.”
Continuing, he said “we will uphold decency and decorum, love and peace and respect for one another in our patience of politics.”
Frances Assiam told Daily Guide at the event that, “I feel ecstatic and elated today. There is absolutely no turning back on our resolve to move forward as a political party. This is vox populi vox dei (the voice of the people, is the voice of God). Every serious undertaking is always rigorous. Although things have not been smooth-sailing, we are forging ahead as you can see. The end justifies the means.”