Preparation are far advanced by the Dan Markin led faction of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) to launch a new political party outside the Progressive Alliance.
Investigations by “The Evening News” have revealed that the founding members and financiers had proposed the name Democratic Party (DP) for the new party, although a political party was once registered with the name. According to insiders of the DPP, the party had already adopted its motto as “Still Religion” whilst it has a logo of multi colours with a blue sea inserted in the middle. The party’s constitution is also almost completed and will be finally discussed when its founding members meet on September 20.
The paper’s investigations revealed that the idea of forming the party was mooted just after the last general elections when the national executive council of the DPP met. It is said during the meeting some radicals within the DPP expressed disappointment about the legal battle between Mr Markin and his one time pal, Mt. T.N. Ward-Brew both of who claimed to have founded the party. The radicals therefore suggested that they form a new party and allow Mr Ward-brew to take over remnants of the DPP.
Based on this deliberation, the meeting mandated the central executive members to formulate the necessary modalities for the new party. Investigations at the Electoral Commission also revealed that the Dan Markin faction did pick a registration form from their offices in Accra.
When contacted, the General-Secretary of the DPP, Mr Lawrence Honu, a known friend of Mr Dan Markin confirmed the story and added that documentation of the registration forms are almost complete. Asked whether the new party would enter into an electoral pact with the NDC, Mr Honu said it was for the National Executive Council of the new party to answer after it had been formally launched. However, a source within the Markin faction hinted “The Evening News” that the party was being formed based on the principles and ideology of ex-President Jerry John Rawlings and partially Nkrumaist inclined.
