Frances Ewurabena Assiam, otherwise called ‘One Woman Thousand’, the Interim Women’s Organiser of the Democratic Freedom Party has announced her immediate retirement from party politics.

According to the Statesman newspaper, Assiam took the decision for “health” reasons, insisting that the decision had nothing to do with the party she helped form only one year ago after quitting her position in the National Democratic Congress.

The newspaper quotes a letter Assiam wrote to the General Secretary of the DFP, Abraham Kofi Asante, in which she informed the party of her “inability to continue holding the position of Interim Women’s Organizer” duly conferred on her by the executive of the party. “This has been necessitated by my current health status.”

“I sincerely thank you and the entire executive for the honour done to me,” she wrote. “I also thank you for your co-operation and team work and wish the party well in its endeavours.”

The DFP was formed only a year ago largely by a group of disgruntled NDC members. Mrs Assiam herself left the NDC following its ill-fated Congress of 22 December 2005, standing down from her position as National Women’s Organiser after she was attacked and beaten by the so-called Bawku Boys.

“I quit the day I was attacked,” she said. “I was up-front about my movements then and I shall be up-front about them now. This time I am leaving politics entirely; which means there should be no speculation about me moving to another party. “I will not be back”.

“I am quitting for the sake of my health; because a dead man does not make work, does not make news and does not contribute to society. I think I am better off alive!”

The newspaper said although Mrs Assiam refused to be drawn into discussions about her health problems, she revealed that she was discharged from hospital only a week and a half ago and that she had been advised to rest and recover.

“I discussed my decision with the Deputy General Secretary of the DFP (John Amekah) and with some few other members. They all agreed with my decision”.

Her resignation from the fledging DFP might be interpreted in some quarters as a slight on the party itself; only 12 months old and still working to establish itself on the Ghana political scene. However she was determined to stamp out that speculative link:

“As for now, I am no longer involved with partisan politics of the DFP or any other party,” she said. “But I believe that the party is gaining in strength and that my decision to leave is based on health concerns only.

“If anyone from the DFP wants to gain from my rich experience, I will be more than happy to impart my knowledge to them,” she said; quickly adding that the offer was open to the DFP only and “no other political party”.

Those hopeful of a re-crossing of the carpet back to her NDC roots would be disappointed there.

Frances Assiam had been an active player in Ghanaian politics for many years.

Source: The Statesman