The leadership of Akua Donkor's Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) is divided over whether or not the party should continue to participate in the 2024 presidential election after their founder died last week with a few weeks left for 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 has 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 by 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 gathered from the Electoral Commission that, the letter from the General Secretary is what the commission was working with.
The commission has since received the nomination forms from 'Roman Fada' as the presidential candidate replacement for Akua Donkor.
Roman Fada has gone ahead to nominate 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 expected to give a feedback to the party within 24 hours or latest by Thursday, November 7, on whether or not the presidential candidate and the running mate meet the qualifications.
Roman Fada following the General Secretary's letter on Tuesday at exactly 1:07 pm filed his nomination forms, which had 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 the party was formally withdrawing from the December 7 presidential election due 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 it was 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 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 organised by the commission.