Veronica Asante also known as Akua Donkor, the founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), was a Ghanaian politician and dedicated cocoa farmer who passed away at age 83.
0
Born in the Afigya Kwabre District in the Ashanti Region, Donkor was not known to have received any formal education but carved a notable path in Ghanaian politics.
1
Her political career began as she was elected assemblywoman for Herman, a stepping stone towards her ambition to one day become the president of Ghana. In 2012, Donkor applied to run as an independent candidate in the presidential race, but her bid was cut short by the Electoral Commission, a decision she openly challenged.
2
Despite her disqualification, she continued to embrace the title of "Her Excellency" and pursued her vision for Ghana through the Ghana Freedom Party, headquartered in Kabu, Eastern Region. Tragically, the party’s headquarters was destroyed by fire on January 22, 2016, yet her drive remained undeterred.
3
Donkor’s presidential platform emphasized accessible education and economic growth. She promised free education from primary through secondary school, tax incentives to boost imports, and the establishment of a free-trade zone at the Tema Port to attract businesses.
4
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Forever Great 💯 (@aba.the.great)
5
She strongly believed Ghana’s natural resources—gold, cocoa, shea butter, and salt—could be leveraged to achieve these goals and argued that, as an oil-producing country, Ghana should refine and sell its oil domestically rather than relying on imports. Inspired by Muammar Gaddafi, she envisioned Ghana rising to Libya's level of oil production and trade.
6
In the 2016 election cycle, Donkor was one of 13 presidential candidates disqualified by the Electoral Commission due to errors in her nomination form, an issue she acknowledged. Nonetheless, she remained determined, encouraging her party members to stay hopeful as she prepared to return for the 2020 race.
7
Her perseverance paid off as she secured a spot on the ballot for the 2024 election, holding the number three position. She also selected Kwabena Agyeman Appiah Kubi, widely known as Roman Fada, a prominent Ghanaian radio host, as her running mate for the 2024 race. Her 2020 running mate, Ernest "Adakabre" Frimpong Manso, later confirmed that Donkor passed away on October 28, 2024, at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital due to respiratory-related complications.
8
