DFP Takes Steps To Wind Up Political Activities

The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has set up a winding-up committee to carry out all residual activities of the party after it formally re-united with the ruling National Democratic Congress on Tuesday. At a joint news conference in Accra on Tuesday, both the DFP and NDC showcased their readiness to consummate the re-union after almost seven years of secession. The winding up committee, which is under the chairmanship of Nii Okaija Adamafio and with Mr Bede Ziedeng as Secretary, is expected to conclude all arrangements to inform the Electoral Commission that the DFP had re-united with the NDC and that the party no longer exist and that all its political activities have come to a halt. This, would enable the Electoral Commission to expunge any DFP records from the EC�s register. Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra, Mr Ziedeng said the new committee would also fashion out how some executive members of the defunct party could be absorbed into the executive structure of the NDC. He described yesterday�s merger as a good omen for the NDC and democracy as a whole, and pledged to work with the NDC for it to retain power. It will be recalled that several years after unity talks, the DFP finally reunited with its roots, the NDC, in a deal that is expected to boost the fortunes of the NDC in the forthcoming elections. The DFP first made public, its intention to go back to its roots at an NDC emergency congress in Sunyani last year. The consummation of the reunion means the DFP ceases to be a political party and that understanding is expected to be communicated to the EC next week for it to expunge the name of the party from the list of registered political parties. Having finally clinched the deal and all differences ironed out, the NDC is expected to benefit from about 27,889 votes garnered by the DFP presidential candidate in the 2008, Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi, all things being equal. The significance of the occasion was highlighted by the presence of the VIce-President , Mr John Dramani Mahama; the Minister of Environment, Science and and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey: the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr Kobby Acheampong and some government officials.