CPP aspirant to pour libation at "vantage" sites

Accra, Oct 8, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, an aspiring flag bearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP) for Elections 2008, on Monday said his campaign team would pour libation at vantage commemorative sites across the country to seek inspiration from the party. The sites include the graveside of Dr Hilla Limann, President of the Third Republic at Gwollu, the birthplace and graveside of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and other important sites of CPP and Ghana. Dr Limann won the presidency in 1979 on the ticket of the pro-CPP People's National Party.

Dr Nduom was speaking to newsmen after picking his nomination forms to officially initiate the process of contesting for the CPP flag bearer slot for Elections 2008. He and four others have publicly announced their intention to contest the CPP flat bearer slot. The CPP opened nominations for presidential candidate and national executive positions on Monday. Nominations would close on October 22 and vetting of aspirants for the party's flag bearer position would start immediately after the filing of nominations.

The party's eligibility criteria are at least one year of card bearing membership, meeting the prescribed qualification as ascribed in the 1992 Constitution and the CPP Constitution, good conduct, background police criminal report and good standing within the CPP. Dr Nduom, who is CPP Member of Parliament for Komenda-Edina -Eguafu, called on supporters of the party not to engage in politics of insults. Rather, they should woo others into their fold in order to beef up their numbers because victory of the party depended on the number of faithful supporters.

He said after Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, successive leaders of the country had also played their part in the development of the nation and it was now the turn of CPP again and, for that matter Paa Kwesi Nduom, to lead Ghana to economic independence.

He urged members of the CPP to unite and conduct a vigorous campaign, devoid of acrimony and internal squabbles. "We should not wash our dirty linen and dry it outside."

Dr Nduom said Dr Nkrumah's general principles such as maintaining one's dignity as a Ghanaian in his own country, and not in a foreign land, would be upheld when the CPP won power. "Ghanaians should know that a vote for the CPP is a vote in the right direction; the CPP is the political entity of the moment and we will ensure that we unite the people and fight to end poverty." Dr Nduom called for tolerance during the campaign season, saying: "We should be talking about what would better the lot of our people and not what would divide us as a people.''

"I want to champion a politics of ideas, not a politics of blame. Former President Jerry John Rawlings did what he could do for the nation so is President John Agyekum Kufuor doing his best. But when he leaves I want to be the man to continue the job of building this nation.'' "Leading a country is not an easy road for anyone. What we need is someone with experience, someone who can handle issues expertly and expediently. My experiences have given me these attributes and I am the person to lead this country."

Professor Nii Noi Dowuona, CPP General Secretary who handed over the nomination documents to Dr Nduom, assured the aspirants that the national leadership, members of the Central Committee, regional and constituency executives and staff at the CPP secretariat would remain neutral in all aspects of the campaign from filing to elections. He outlined a five-point rules of conduct for campaign which include the creation of a platform for all aspirants to interact with party members; all aspirants and their campaign team must not obstruct, disrupt or cause to break up meetings and campaign activities of other aspirants or promote any act of indiscipline.

An aspirant and the campaign team must not destroy, remove, deface or tamper with the paraphernalia and campaign materials of other aspirants; they must avoid the use of inflammatory, abusive or provocative language or incitements to denigrate the integrity of other aspirants.

According to the Code of Conduct, the party would provide equal opportunity to all aspirants to interact with all organs and structures of the party during the campaign period.