Emmanuel Nti Fordjour
FORMER ASHANTI Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nti Fordjour, has been stuck by a strange disease which has rendered him paralyzed in both legs for the past five years.
Mr. Fordjour left the NDC together with his political mentor, Obed Asamoah, to form the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) after the Koforidua congress of the NDC, where he was believed to have been manhandled by some goons of the ruling party.
He was appointed the first Ashanti Regional Chairman of the DFP but was hit by the strange disease a year after, compelling him to walk with clutches.
Sadly, Mr. Fordjour claims his close friends in politics, both in the NDC and DFP, have abandoned him and he is now being taken care of by his wife and nephews, with some difficulties.
The DFP patron, whose legs are swollen, said apart from Dr. Obed Asamoah of the DFP and Kumasi Mayor Samuel Sarpong, who intermittently sent him money and drugs, his other friends had left him to his deplorable fate.
He said even his executives from the DFP in the Ashanti Region had ceased visiting him, noting that but for God’s help and the love of his wife and his nephews, he would have been dead by now.
Speaking exclusively with DAILY GUIDE, Mr. Fordjour said all efforts to get him healed, including visiting hospitals, churches, Mallams and herbalists, had so far proven futile.
He disclosed that he was yet to find out the disease that had paralyzed him from the waist down, adding, “Some say it is stroke, others say it is spiritual disease, I am even confused now.”
Despite his predicament, he said his days in politics were not numbered, insisting that he would bounce back strong and take his rightful position in Ghanaian politics, as he used to do.
Asked whether he could move around to campaign, judging from his physical condition, Mr. Fordjour said “even if I can’t walk, I can be consulted for my views on vital party issues.”
The DFP patron said his party executives had reached a consensus to return to the NDC, stressing that “the DFP was created from the NDC due to some mishaps and it is now time to return home.”
Asked whether the NDC’s triumph in the 2008 polls had influenced the DFP’s decision to return, he retorted, “No that is far from the case. We left because of some happenings in the NDC then, which I can’t mention now.”
Mr. Fordjour added, “We at the DFP have now seen real changes in the NDC now and that is why we are coming back. We have seen that President Mills can lead the NDC to a second term in office and that is why we are coming to support him.”
According to him, he didn’t believe Mr. Rawlings’ claims that he would not campaign for President Mills in the 2008 polls, saying, “Rawlings will campaign for Mills because he has brought his legacy and we are all defending it so why can he leave the party midstream?”
Asked if he would welcome any assistance from the NDC to help cure his disease, Mr. Fordjour said, “If the NDC finds it wise to take care of me, I will accept without any hesitation.”
Mr. Fordjour said he did not regret leaving the NDC after the party’s Koforidua congress, saying that he, together with other party members, were beaten up “so it was then right for us to leave.”
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
