The Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) Professor Edmund Delle on Saturday vociferously turned down a request from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), to form an alliance going into this year’s election in November.
The request was made by the NPP’s Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Agyei Sowah, who was addressing some 2,500 delegates who have converged on the Accra International Trade Fair Centre for a national delegates’ congress to elect their Flagbearer for the November elections.
Mr. Agyei Sowah, who was delivering the usually sober solidarity message to the CPP said “
“Nepotism, corruption and inefficiency in government services and palpable inability to deliver on promises which is otherwise known as incompetence, have left the citizens wondering if Ghana can ever work again.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”bcGq1qDP8KgSyQ9KNIs5IExPSin4aWqO”]According to him, just as the CPP agreed to be part of former President Kufuor’s all-inclusive government from the year 2001 to 2008, where some officials of the party served in his administration to deliver Ghanaians from the hardships then, the party should elect a candidate who will be willing to work with the NPP’s candidate to rescue Ghana for the second time.”
The NPP’s request as expected did not go down well with the CPP delegates as they shouted and booed at Mr. Agyei Sowah.
“As you gather to elect a Flagbearer today, we are confident that your delegates will elect a candidate who has Ghana at heart and who will be ready and willing to work hand in hand, once again with the NPP and its candidate.”
“We in the NPP are committed to the fight against corruption and are willing to cooperate with all who share this goal with us. We are ready to lend you our strengths where you need it most because we have done it before and we will be happy to receive your support when we need it most. We swish you a smooth congress and we await your new Flagbearer with whom we believe we can share a common objective.”
The Chairman of the CPP, Professor Edmund Delle, who had addressed the gathering already, immediately after the NPP’s solidrity message, altered the programming by mounting the podium to reject the NPP’s proposal.
He said the party is not going to form such alliances anymore, but added that they are willing to unite with parties of Nkrumaist orientation.
“As a party, never again shall we create the impression that we are not capable of standing on our own. We shall and we must, we can and we must do it. We have the people, we have the men; we have the women and the youth to go forward. We just need everyone including all comrades to unite together and go forward. We are one invincible party and nobody can break us. We should just have a unity of purpose. We do not need anyone to tell us what we can do to win power. We are going to be the masters of our destiny. We shall be in charge of our destiny. No one else will come and dictate to us. This is an important occasion in the life of this party. The only thing I expect from these candidates is brotherhood and that when the election is over, we all have to support one presidential candidate”
The Flabearership race
The presidential aspirants for Saturday’s congress include the former Chairperson of the party and daughter of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Samia Nkrumah, former General Secretary; Ivor Greenstreet, three-time flagbearer aspirant; Bright Akewetey and Joseph Agyepong.
Injunction application
The congress was held despite reports that Onsy Nkrumah, who was disqualified from contesting for not meeting the requirements, secured an injunction to stop it.
The party’s General Secretary, Nii Armah Akomfrah told Citi News although the party received the writ, its lawyers advised they could go ahead with the congress.
His position was confirmed by party Chairman Professor Edmund Delle, who is convinced that they are right to go ahead with the congress, adding that the suit to be heard in February, will be thrown out since Onsy Nkrumah’s requests cannot be met.
CPP’s misfortunes
The CPP’s political misfortunes have largely been blamed on a never-ending divided front. Prior to this election, the party’s 2012 Presidential Candidate Dr. Abu Sakara, resigned citing attempts to sideline others and create a dynasty.
Dr. Sakara becomes the second Presidential candidate of the CPP to have resigned after Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, who he partnered as a running mate to lead the party in 2008. Dr. Nduom now leads the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) which he founded after his breakaway.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie