A visibly shocked Samia Yaba Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has accused Ivor Greenstreet who convincingly beat her at Saturday’s presidential primary to emerge the Convention People’s Party’s Flagbearer for the November general elections, of vote buying.
Samia, who appeared highly confident of her chances and desire to lead the party her father founded, managed only 579 votes representing about 28.9% of the total votes cast.
Mr. Greenstreet, an immediate past General Secretary of the party who had not been largely tipped to win, emerged victorious with 1,288 votes representing 64.2%.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Sb3GBw2IIyQrVAFbOwmu1KvdQx2ScRT8″]His victory has been described as the biggest political shock in recent times. His ambition to lead the CPP had not been loudly mentioned as compared to Samia Nkrumah.
Speaking to journalists after her defeat, Samia Nkrumah alleged that his opponent paid his way through.
She however says she accepts the result and will support the party to build a formidable front to recapture power.
“No; I’m obviously not happy with the results, but I accept them. The fact of the matter is that every delegate was paid GHc200 and GHc500 actually, amongst many other things. So, it was down to money and of course we cannot be happy about that but we accept the results, and we move on. There is a lot of work to be done and I will always serve the party. It’s a vision to serve not for an individual.”
Samia Nkrumah said she will not contest the results in court.
“I don’t seek injunctions. There’ll always be another day. Unfortunately this is a reflection of what happens in our politics and these are some the things we have to battle against.”
Two other contenders, Joseph Agyapong had 82 votes, representing 4.1%; and Bright Akwetey, who made a fourth attempt to lead the CPP, came last with just 44 votes representing 2.1% of the total votes cast.
Samia’s political future
Samia who became the CPP’s MP for Jomoro in 2008, lost the seat after just a term. She contested for the Chairmanship and won, but after just a term at the helm of affairs, she stepped down to contest for the flagbearership position.
It is unclear now what lies in store for her as far as her political career is concerned.
The man Ivor Greenstreet
Although Mr. Ivor Greenstreet appears to be a sober person assisted to move around quietly in his wheelchair, he is viewed as an honest and courageous individual with a genuine desire and passion for Ghana’s transformation.
In December 2014, Mr. Greenstreet won the hearts of many Ghanaians when he boldly and publicly chastised President Mahama and members of his entire National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.
Mr. Greenstreet, who had mounted a dais to deliver the traditional solidarity message at the NDC’s congress at the Babayara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to elect new executives, took time to remind the President of his failed promises, the hardships in the country and the need for him to be mindful of the challenges and turn things around.
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 side-line others and create a dynasty.
Dr. Sakara thus 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.
Greenstreet will face off competition from the NDC’s John Mahama, the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo, the PNC’s Dr. Edward Mahama and others.
It remains to be seen whether or not he would be able to improve the fortunes of the party.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie