This endorsement follows the disqualification of the GFP’s presidential candidate, Philip Appiah Kubi, popularly known as Roman Fada, by the Electoral Commission (EC) on November 12.

Mr Kubi’s nomination was invalidated due to irregularities in his forms, which arose after the sudden passing of Akua Donkor, the party’s original presidential flagbearer.

Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, December 4, the Deputy General Secretary of the GFP, Jerry Addo, announced the decision to back the NDC, explaining that it was reached after extensive consultations with the party’s executives.

Mr Addo highlighted the alignment of the NDC’s policies with the GFP’s core values as the main reason for their support.

He specifically pointed to the NDC’s commitment to establishing a Women’s Development Bank and waiving academic fees for first-year tertiary students as policies that resonated deeply with the GFP’s vision.

“The Ghana Freedom Party is endorsing H.E. John Dramani Mahama as our candidate for Saturday [December 7]. He is the leader we believe can save Ghanaians. Let me emphasize, no one coerced or influenced us into making this decision.

“We scrutinized the manifestos and policies of all political parties and even independent candidates. It took time because we wanted to be thorough. Our late flagbearer, Akua Donkor, was passionate about women’s welfare, and the NDC’s plan to establish the Women’s Development Bank aligns with her vision.

“Additionally, Akua Donkor valued education, despite not having formal schooling herself. The NDC’s promise of free tertiary education for first-year students, including those with disabilities, mirrors the aspirations she held for Ghana. The NDC’s policies and vision are perfectly in line with the ideals of the Ghana Freedom Party,” he stated.

READ ALSO:

• Start writing your handover notes, Asante Akyem Central has abandoned you – NDC to NPP PC
• OSP commences probe into Ayawaso West Wuogon food distribution incident
• Giving voters food, money is a crime – Samson Anyenini

This followed a detailed examination of the nomination forms submitted last week by Roman Fada as a replacement for the late Akua Donkor.

The Electoral Commission (EC) announced this development at a press briefing on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, stated that several errors were detected in Roman Fada’s nomination forms.

Despite the disqualification, Madam Mensa confirmed that no changes would be made to the balloting position, and printing would proceed as planned.

The Commission also took the opportunity to observe a minute’s silence in honour of Madam Akua Donkor.

Madam Donkor passed away at the Ridge Hospital on Monday, October 28, 2024.

ALSO READ:

• 2024 Election: Ghana Freedom Party announces Akua Donkor’s replacement
• Election 2024: EC to refund filing fees to disqualified Presidential aspirants

• Bimbilla: I won’t go independent – Disqualified NPP parliamentary aspirant

• 2024 election: Jean Mensa consoles disqualified presidential hopefuls

The leadership of Akua Donkor’s Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) is divided over whether the party should continue to participate in the 2024 presidential election after the death of their founder last week, just a few weeks before the December 7 elections.

While the General Secretary of the GFP, George Afful, in a letter dated Monday, November 4, 2024, addressed to the Electoral Commissioner, announced that the party had nominated the vice presidential candidate, Philip Appiah Kubi, commonly known as ‘Roman Fada’, to replace the late Akua Donkor as the presidential candidate, the National Organiser, Richard Botchway, in another letter dated Tuesday, November 5, 2024, also addressed to the EC, announced that the party was withdrawing from the race.

Roman Fada, in some correspondence from the GFP, has been referred to as Philip Kwabena Agyemang, but the GFP General Secretary’s letter to the EC introduced him as Philip Appiah Kubi.

Both letters were received by the Electoral Commission on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

However, Graphic Online has reported that the letter from the General Secretary is the one the commission is working with.

The commission has since received the nomination forms from ‘Roman Fada’ as the presidential candidate replacement for Akua Donkor.

Roman Fada has also nominated one Vida Eshun as his running mate.

Sources at the Electoral Commission have told Graphic Online that the commission is reviewing the nomination forms and is expected to provide feedback to the party within 24 hours, or by Thursday, November 7, on whether or not the presidential candidate and the running mate meet the necessary qualifications.

Following the General Secretary’s letter, Roman Fada filed his nomination forms at exactly 1:07 p.m. on Tuesday, which included Vida Eshun as his running mate. The Deputy Chairman at the EC in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, received the forms.

GFP National Organiser’s Letter

In his letter dated November 5, the National Organiser of the GFP, Richard Botchway, indicated that the party was formally withdrawing from the December 7 presidential election due to the death of their founder and presidential candidate, Akua Donkor.

He said the intention was to honour the commitment and sacrifices of Madam Donkor, who was the driving force and sole candidate for the party.

He indicated that it was a decision taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the GFP in consultation with the family of Akua Donkor.

“This decision, irrespective of how difficult it may be, has been reached to posthumously honour the commitment and sacrifices made by our late founder and presidential candidate,” the letter stated.

He said the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the GFP, in arriving at that decision, also regrets any disruption the withdrawal may create for the Electoral Commission’s preparations.

However, they affirmed the party’s readiness to participate in future elections organized by the commission.

Attached below is a copy of the letter from the General Secretary of the GFP, introducing Philip Appiah Kubi as the replacement for Akua Donkor.

The Electoral Commission (EC) last week suspended the printing of presidential ballot papers for Election 2024 following the sudden death of Akua Donkor, the presidential candidate of the GFP.

The EC gave the GFP 10 days to nominate a new presidential candidate.

The EC quoted Article 50(4) of the 1992 Constitution to support the move of giving the GFP 10 days. It states: “Where, at the close of nominations, but before the election, one of the candidates dies, a further period of ten days shall be allowed for nominations…”

The Commission explained that while the 1992 Constitution and the Public Elections Regulations, 2020, C.I. 127, are not clear on processes to follow in the event of the death of a presidential candidate, Article 50(4) of the 1992 Constitution provides as follows: “Where, at the close of nominations, but before the election, one of the candidates dies, a further period of ten days shall be allowed for nominations…”

Madam Akua Donkor founded the GFP in 2011 and got it registered in 2012.

This was after she had served as an Assembly Member at Hemang in the Kwabre East District.

From Assembly Member, she moved to the constituency level and filed to contest as a Member of Parliament for Kwabre East in the Ashanti Region. She competed with the late Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, a former Judicial Secretary and former Ashanti Regional Minister, who beat Akua Donkor and served two terms on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

After two failed attempts in the parliamentary elections in 2004 and 2008, and determined to advance her political career, she moved up into the presidential race and formed the GFP in 2011.

She filed to contest the 2024 presidential election on the ticket of the GFP and had been attending all IPAC meetings and political party events herself.

ALSO READ:

• We await EC’s response – GFP General Secretary

• 2024 Election: Ghana Freedom Party announces Akua Donkor’s replacement

He confirmed that the party is now awaiting a response from the Electoral Commission (EC) to move forward with their candidate.

“What I can tell you as General Secretary is that we have finished filing our nomination, and it ends there; we are waiting for the EC’s response,” Mr. Afful stated in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, November 5.

The GFP’s filing comes amidst internal discord, with two factions issuing conflicting directives to the EC. Mr. Afful’s letter officially endorsed Philip Kwabena Agyemang, known as Roman Fada, as the party’s new presidential candidate, following the EC’s mandate to nominate a replacement within 10 days, in accordance with Article 40(4) of the 1992 Constitution.

However, the party’s National Organiser submitted a contradictory letter, claiming that after consultations with Madam Donkor’s family, the GFP had chosen to withdraw from the presidential race.

The General Secretary clarified that the party had followed the late Akua Donkor’s final instructions, which included consulting senior party executives and four parliamentary candidates.

According to him, this group unanimously supported the decision to select Philip Appiah Kubi as the GFP’s new presidential candidate, with Vida Eshong as his running mate.

“We have done exactly what our mother asked to be done. Today we were at the EC at exactly 1:07 pm, and we have filed our nomination,” he added.

ALSO READ:

• 2024 Election: Ghana Freedom Party announces Akua Donkor’s replacement

The development comes on the back of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) 10-day ultimatum for a replacement following the untimely death of its founder and flagbearer, Akua Donkor.

Prior to Madam Donkor’s demise, Roman Fada was her running mate.

The decision to select Roman Fada came after extensive consultations within the party’s leadership to ensure a smooth transition.

A statement signed by the General Secretary of the GFP, George Afful, noted that Mr. Kubi’s nomination would be filed with the EC in due time.

The candidate had earlier expressed his willingness to step in as the flagbearer, should the law permit him.

Madam Donkor passed away at the Ridge Hospital on Monday, October 28, 2024.

ALSO READ:

• EC suspends printing of ballot papers over Akua Donkor’s death

• Akua Donkor’s family reacts to her death