NDC Brands DFP A "419" Party

As the newly formed Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) appears to intensify its incursion into National Democratic Congress (NDC) strongholds nationwide, the NDC propaganda machinery has moved to work, threatening that the party would resort to legal action if necessary to protect its interest.

A statement released on Monday fell short of mentioning the name of the DFP as the party perpetuating the alleged "419" scam against the NDC membership. But the Party's Propaganda Chief, Fifii Kwettey in an interview with CITI NEWS stated that the NDC's statement has eyes on the DFP.

The DFP has in the past denied reports that it was using unfair tactics to woo supporters of the NDC.

According to him, the DFP is a "419" party whose operatives are busily dolling out monies to NDC sympathizers in a "fraudulent" bid to buy them in into the DFP.

He added that the DFP is further faking what he termed "ghost defections" in a bid to mislead Ghanaians in thinking that they are making waves on the political scene. "This is indeed fraudulent and unacceptable".

"What these empty and bankrupt politicians do is very simple. Usually, a "419" political operative goes from town to town, village to village with pre-prepared covering letter in his or her folder, bag or briefcase", the NDC said in a statement signed by its Propaganda Chief on Monday.

"Typically the letter contains a declaration of defection or resignation from the NDC, purported to have been made by a group of people, usually NDC followers or supporters. The 419 operative makes sure that the pre-written letter is hidden from potential innocent victims who neither see nor read it", the party claimed in an apparent reference to recent reports of mass desertion of the immediate past ruling party.

The term 419 is a Nigerian jargon that refers to the "modus operandi" of fraudsters and conmen who mislead unsuspecting victims with carefully planned and rehearsed scam.

A breakaway faction of the NDC, led by Dr Obed Asamoah former NDC boss, and onetime Attorney General and Minister for Justice under the Rawlings rule formed the DFP.

Recent media reports have put the NDC at the receiving end of an alleged mass defection drive, with the DFP reportedly benefiting immensely from the defections from former ruling party.

There were also reports recently that some 240 NDC members abandoned the NDC for the DFP in the Domeabra-Oboom and Nkwanta-South Constituency. But, Mr Fiifi Kwetey told CITI NEWS that such reports are orchestrated handiworks of what he termed 419 political groupings from within the DFP in particular. According to him such reports are "false".

"The NDC also wishes to inform the con politicians that it is determined to assist any victim identified as an NDC member and follower, to take legal against any con political operative and his or her party if what happned in the Domeabra-Oboom and the Nkwanta South Constituencies ever happens again elsewhere".