Portions of the Accra International Trade Fair Centre have been awash with colours of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), as over two thousand four hundred (2,400) delegates have converged for a National Delegates Congress to elect a new Presidential Candidate for the upcoming elections in November this year.
Citi News, Dong Ullo Sixtus who’s at the venue reports that some persons are also cashing in on the event by trading party paraphernalia.
He said delegates started arriving early this morning although voting is to begin by 2:00pm.
Unlike similar events where delegates have complained of ill-treatment, Sixtus says delegates are generally excited about the arrangements that were made to host them.
He says the delegates are poised to elect their leader and are unperturbed about reports of an injunction application.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the party held a meeting to open the congress where pertinent issues concerning the party were discussed.
Contestants
The presidential aspirants for Saturday’s exercise 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.
Samia Nkrumah is highly tipped to emerge victorious but faces stiff opposition from Bright Akwetey who has contested on three occasions and Ivor Greenstreet, the party’s immediate past vociferous General Secretary.
Injunction application
The congress is going ahead despite reports that Onsy Nkrumah, who was disqualified from contesting for not meeting the requirements, has secured an injunction to stop it.
The party’s General Secretary, Nii Armah Akomfrah has told Citi News although the party has received the writ, its lawyers have advised they can go ahead with the congress.
His position was confirmed by party Chairman Professor Edmund Delle, who’s 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.
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