DFP Veep Joins NPP Campaign?

Patience Amenku THE WOES of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) seem to be deepening as the party's vice presidential candidate, Ms Patience Amenku is alleged to have joined the campaign train of the Central Tongu constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Ms Amenku and another leading member of the party, Anthony Hogame are alleged to have said on a platform that members of the party should vote for the NPP “since the NPP is heading towards victory and that DFP supporters will be comfortable if the NPP retains power.”

These reports were contained in a petition written and signed by the DFP parliamentary candidate in the North Tongu constituency, Emmanuel Kuma Atsem and addressed to the Life Patron of the party, Dr. Obed Asamoah, with copies to the DAILY GUIDE in Ho on Monday.

According to the petition, Ms Amenku and Mr. Hogame had been going round the constituency with the DFP parliamentary candidate for South Tongu, S.K. Afedo, to campaign for the NPP when they should be campaigning for the DFP candidate.

The petition further indicated that the DFP had witnessed a massive defection of its members back to the NDC and some to the NPP as a result of the confusion in the party in the constituency.

Ms Amenku however denied the allegation when contacted by DAILY GUIDE on phone on Monday.

She said she had never campaigned for any other party apart from the DFP ever since she became the party's running mate. “How? Am I mad? How can I do that?” she asked.

She alleged that the DFP candidate for the constituency was rather lazy and could not go round to campaign as a result of which he had resorted to defamation of party executives including her.

Ms Amenku further noted that for sometime now, she had not been to the area and so did not see how she could have campaigned for the NPP.

She told DAILY GUIDE that on the few occasions that she went to her hometown, Mafi-Kumasi, she only met with the chiefs to introduce herself to them as the DFP running mate.

She said on another occasion, she was the guest speaker at a programme organised in the district and “even on that day, I don't remember campaigning for anybody.”

Meanwhile, the DFP parliamentary candidate for the Central Tongu Constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Kuma Atsem had petitioned the Central Tongu District Police Commander to prevent the DFP from holding a rally in the constituency yesterday.

He said the rally “is being organised by some disgruntled elements within the party with ulterior motives without my knowledge and consent.”

He noted that the rally was of no merit and should not be allowed to come on, with reference to the Public Order Law.   By Wise Donkor, Ho