DFP declares support for Akufo-Addo

Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah (December 16, 2008)

THE Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has thrown its weight behind the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo Addo, for the run-off scheduled for December 28, 2008.
At a press conference held by the DFP in Accra yesterday, the General Secretary, Mr Bede A. Ziedeng, said the DFP strongly felt that the NPP administration had made the necessary efforts to put the Ghanaian economy on an even keel which yielded and continued to yield results, despite the numerous external shocks.
“It is a matter of course that, in the greater national interest, the party supports a candidate that will most likely continue to improve on our economic performance, and also maintain the goodwill and international support that Ghana currently enjoys. Nana Addo is the man to do it”, he observed.
Mr Ziedeng said the DFP was approached by the NPP to officially seek the party’s support in Nana Akuffo Addo’s bid for the presidency, and went on to explain that the DFP’s decision had been highly informed by the NPP’s interest and the respect for the party as a key player in Ghana’s contemporary politics.
In addition he stated that the party was also approached by the NDC but they could not accept the NDC’s invitation.
“Having taken this decision, the Democratic Freedom Party is now fully set to campaign for Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo Addo to win the run-off.
“We, therefore, call on all our members, field activists, supporters and sympathisers to campaign, and turn out to vote, and vote massively for Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo Addo of the New Patriotic Party on December 28, 2008”, he said.
At the general election held on December 7, 2008, the presidential candidate of the DFP, Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi, polled 27,889, representing 0.33 per cent of the valid votes cast.
Mr Ziedeng said the DFP preferred the NPP to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because it was a fact that the political climate created by the NPP had been congenial enough to allow for the steady growth and development of a party like theirs.
He observed that although the DFP was born as a political party whilst the NPP was in government, indeed, the DFP did not experience any obstacles.
“The DFP can thus be sure of its survival, growth and development under Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo Addo’s administration. This guarantee we do not want to trade off”, he stressed.
Mr Ziedeng pointed out that from the party’s political past, it felt the NPP had a more enviable human right record, adding that the DFP as a political party naturally supported a movement towards a freer political environment in which individuals and group rights were respected and treasured.
He also explained that the DFP had as one of its core policies contained in its manifesto the launch of a Green Revolution and one of the key components of the envisaged agricultural revolution, adding that with the initiative taken by the NPP government to subsidise fertiliser this year, even though not far reaching , would have been expected.
Present at the press conference were the patron of the DFP, Mr Obed Asamoah, the party’s presidential candidate in the last general election, Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi, the deputy General Secretary, Mr John Ameka and other party executives.