NDC DFP merger is a mirage

An NDC activist, Brogya Gyamfi Ernest, says the merger between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) is “only a mirage”.

He said the DFP wishes to join the ruling political party but there is no explicit basis for such action stating that the NDC operates within the rigors of the party’s constitution.

The NDC activist mentioned Articles 8 and 9, which spell out the membership and affiliation processes into the party and categorically said the sudden unity between both parties defies the constitutional provisions under these articles.

Brogya Gyamfi Ernest was reacting to the recent move by the Democratic Freedom Party to the National Democratic Party. This action by the DFP has recently become a vexed issue raising doubts about the intentions of the party.

Brogya Gyamfi Ernest said Dr. Obed Asamoah, the life patron of DFP, can only claim to be part of the NDC when the DFP has fulfilled the prerequisites under Article 8. He said the merger is not established in the party’s constitution, hence, annulling the DFP’s attempt to unite with the mother party.

He recounted that the constitution entreats any party or an organization which seeks to fuse with the NDC to firstly establish its membership with the party’s branch. The branch is anticipated to accept the membership before any party can be constitutionally approved. According to him, the DFP has failed to meet this requirement.

Brogya Gyamfi Ernest, in an interview with Xfm 95.1, emphasized that the mandate to a political party to merge with the ruling NDC solely lies with the National Congress. He intimated that no other committee within the party can assume such authority.

He refuted the bond between the NDC General Secretary, Johnson Aseidu Nketiah, and Dr. Obed Asamoah which was marked by the holstering of the NDC national flag.

The NDC activist also confuted the possibility of DFP attaining 2 positions within the National Executive Council and 1 position at the Regional and Constituency levels.

He explained that the party’s constitution provides no room for any disbanded political party to become a member of the NDC except through the laid-down constitutional processes.

He alluded to Dr. Obed Asamoah’s reluctance to throw his weight behind the incumbent President Mills and doubted his significant input into the party.

He revealed that in 2004, an Ashanti delegation comprising the present Deputy National Youth Organizer, Babara Serwaa Asamoah and the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Samuel Ofoso Ampofo met with Dr. Obed Asamoah who was then the national chairman of the party to solicit his assistance.

But Dr. Obed Asamoah refused to make any impact in the campaign process on his understanding that the flag bearer, Professor E.A. Mills, could not amass adequate money to support the party for victory.

He also claimed that Dr. Obed Asamoah and the DFP were the violent people in the party and their separation was a good riddance by the NDC. He cautioned the NDC about the entry of the DFP saying the move does not make any significant bearing on the party’s progress.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/xfm 95.1/Accra/Ghana