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20.10.2006 Politics

We Are In To Win Political Power — DFP

By Daily Graphic
We Are In To Win Political Power — DFP
20.10.2006 LISTEN

The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has stated that it entered the political scene as a third force, to win political power and govern but not to play second fiddle to any political party.

It stated that the formation of the party was meticulously planned and executed to ensure that it grew from strength to strength and won political power to give Ghanaians the best governance ever in the political history of the country.

A leading member of the party, Mr Bede Ziedeng, was speaking to the Daily Graphic about the preparations towards the receipt of the final certificate from the Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday and the subsequent launch of the party on October 28, 2006.

When contacted, the Director of Public Affairs, Mr Yorke Aidoo, confirmed that the DFP would collect its final certificate after it had satisfied all the requirements.

On August 1, 2006, the EC presented the DFP with its provisional certificate. The Deputy Chairman of the EC, Mr Safo Kantanka, presented it to the Interim Chairman of DFP, Alhaji Abdul Rahman.

The presentation ceremony was attended by many supporters of the party in about 10 buses, who converged on the EC's national headquarters as early as 7.30 a.m.

In reaction to claims that the party was formed by some disgruntled members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Ziedeng said that the names and the background of the founders of the party were enough to silence such critics, because they come from the NDC, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People's Party (CPP), the People's National Convention (PNC), as well as other parties.

“Our launch would certainly be a grand event; that is the occasion to show to Ghanaians what we stand for and give an indication as to the direction that we intend to run the affairs of the country, when given the mandate by the good people of Ghana,” Mr Ziedeng said.

“Our launch, again, is to let all Ghanaians know that the DFP is indeed a political party with a difference. We are coming in as a third force, not in terms of being third on the ladder but third to the NDC and the NPP, which have had their turns as governments,” Mr Ziedeng, who was once an acting General Secretary of the NDC, said.

He indicated that many of the Ghanaian electorate were fed up and disenchanted with both the NDC and NPP, because they felt that the two political parties, which had had their turns to govern the country in the Fourth Republic, had failed them.

“There are indications across the country that the people are disillusioned with both parties- the NDC and NPP- and they need an alternative that will deliver in the absence of these two, because if there is no alternative they would not vote,” he explained, and said “we are in to offer them hope and progress as the next government”.

Mr Ziedeng said the national executive committee had established various sub- committees including those for feeding and entertainment, transport, publicity, ground, and a national secretariat, to ensure a successful launch.

He said the launch would attract close to 2,000 party delegates from all corners of the country.

He gave the breakdown as five interim executive members from each constituency, made up of a chairman, secretary, organiser, youth organiser, and women's organiser and the interim regional executives from all the 10 regions.

Mr Ziedeng said all the 138 founder members of the party would be present.

He said invitations had been extended to all the political parties, civil society organisations, diplomatic corps, various labour groups and professional organisations, among others.

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