The Founder of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah says per the outcome of the Sunyani congress of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party has matured in its democratic credentials hence his decision to return to the NDC fold.
Dr. Asamoah noted that the NDC has made some progress in trying to develop a democratic culture that separates them from the past where there were serious agitations against the candidature of Dr. Kwesi Botchway to contest the flagbearership race with Prof. Atta Mills in 2006.
The former NDC Chairman who fell out with the NDC to form the DFP, noted that at that time ex-President Rawlings and others were very much opposed to the candidature of Dr. Botchway which resulted in the current wedge between he and the party founder.
Dr. Obed Asamoah said these in an interview with Adakabre Frimpong Manso on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on Wednesday while commenting on a wide range of issues including why he is rejoining the NDC.
The DFP founder who is also a former Attorney General under Mr. Rawlings’ regime, parted ways with the NDC after the Koforidua congress and formed the DFP with other NDC stalwarts like Kofi Asante, Frances Essiam and Bede Ziedeng.
"I believe that any member of a party should have the right to contest for any position and doesn’t have to seek anybody’s blessing or permission but it was thought otherwise, others were against us, the disagreement took a violent turn and it became acrimonious", Dr. Asamoah recalled.
"I was being vilified in the media by serial callers and other people, I was terribly disappointed about that. You see within the NPP they have done far better, they had a situation where about 19 candidates contested the flagbearership race; they went through it and one person emerged. Am not saying there are no rivalry between them, but they are now working together" he added.
Dr. Obed Asamoah hinted that he had several approaches, especially from the cadres, because they worked hard for the party and did not want the party to go into opposition.
He added that subsequently there were visits by Deputy General Secretary Kofi Adams and agents from President Atta Mills with a similar message to reunite the NDC family and make it more effective.
The DFP founder reiterated that subsequently, Prof Mills invited him to the Castle and they had discussions on how to resolve their differences and work together for the future.
This he said led to the formation of a committee to work out modalities for the reunion. The committee he stated, is already working.
"I believe that progress has been made and we need to acknowledge that progress has been made and that is why I kept saying one cannot nurse grievances forever. Once this progress has been made it was legitimate to consider going bac", Dr. Obed Asamoah underscored.
He therefore dismissed the assertion that the former National Security Coordinator under President Kufour's regime, Francis Opoku engineered his move away from the NDC and assisted him to fund the DFP.
Source: Adom News
