Akua Donkor's party divided over whether or not to withdraw from 2024 election

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.

Read also: Roman Fada replaces Akua Donkor as GFP's presidential candidate

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. 

Roman Fada replaces Akua Donkor as GFP's presidential candidate https://t.co/ONPCpXq4MB pic.twitter.com/69M43s0uwB

Advertisement

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) November 5, 2024

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.

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 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 GFP 10 days. It states; "where at the close of nominations, but before the election, one of the candidates dies, a further period of the 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 the 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 at Kwabre East in the Ashanti Region and 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 move her political career a notch higher, 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.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh