Problematic Alliances as Ghana Moves Towards a Run-off

As the day of the run-off in Ghana’s presidential election, it is expected that the major parties will be wooing the smaller parties to help them win. Yesterday, the leadership of one of these parties, the Democratic Freedom Party has announced their support for the candidate of the NPP. They claim it was under the NPP they had the liberty to be formed and has provided the atmosphere for them to campaign.
The DFP is a breakaway from the NDC, led by the former chairman and one time Minister under the NDC, Dr Obed Asamoah.
But the National Youth Organiser of the party has come out criticising the executive for taking a decision that is contrary to the beliefs and aspirations of the rank and file of the party. To him the people are looking for a change and supporting the ruling NPP is contrary to that. He said this will lead to people leaving the already weak party, as this lends credence to the view that the DFP was being sponsored by the NPP to breakdown the NDC.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) is staying clear of these controversies by declaring that its members and supporters should vote as they wish. The CPP also campaign for change like the NDC but its leader was a minister in the current NPP government.
There are rumours that a splinter party from the NPP, the Reformed Patriotic Democrats has declared support for the NDC.
A pressure group made of several opposition parties including the NDC has declared support for the NDC candidate. This group include the Chairman of yet another party, the PNC which has not as a party declared support for any of the two parties. One wonders whether the party chairman’s membership of the Committee for Joint Action could be taken as the opinion of the PNC as he cannot be at both ends at the same time.
But, alliances or not, the people who have the votes will decide come December 28.