CPP calls for "electoral upheaval in 2016"

The Convention People's Party (CPP) is calling for a radical change in the way governance is managed in the country.

According to the Nkrumahist party, a massive change in the political leadership of the country is needed to get Ghana back to the development path charted by its first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

A statement signed by the party’s National Chairperson, Samia Nkrumah said: “Positive Action for self-determination overshadowed all other considerations.

“Can we muster up this same courage and political awakening today and prepare for a great electoral upheaval in 2016? To regain control over our lives and natural resources, we must change the failed two-party system that has governed Ghana since 1992.

“A system that is not working for our benefit; a system that is making the majority poorer, whilst a select few are getting richer”.

The Statement urged Ghanaians to put an end to what it described as the two-party system in the country.

Below are details of the statement

THE CPP AND POSITIVE ACTION

Today marks the 65th anniversary of the CPP’s Positive Action, which led to Ghana’s independence, and development, sadly cut short in 1966. Today, we reject the failed two-party system in Ghana and call for a radical change in direction, for an alternative approach to our economy and to governance.

Sixty-five years ago, the unthinkable at the time became possible. Many Ghanaians rallied behind the CPP’s call to Positive Action: "Self-government Now!" and "We prefer self-government with danger to servitude in tranquility". Positive Action for self-determination overshadowed all other considerations.

Can we muster up this same courage and political awakening today and prepare for a great electoral upheaval in 2016? To regain control over our lives and natural resources, we must change the failed two-party system that has governed Ghana since 1992. A system that is not working for our benefit; a system that is making the majority poorer, whilst a select few are getting richer.

The current two-party system is only marginally better than the colonial system we rejected.

We are still in a situation where the country is dependent on a few primary commodities, such as cocoa, gold, timber and now oil. The two Structural Adjustment Parties having steadily destroyed the infrastructure and industrial base put in place by the first CPP government.

After more than 50 years of independence, it is time to take control of our economy and our resources. However, this cannot be done under the present system of governance where successive administrations do not practice transparency in accounting for income from every sector including oil and gas; and clearly lack the political will to fight the misuse and misapplication of public funds.

Do we want to wait for another 50 years of tinkering with the same IMF and World Bank-prescribed policies, under different names? The Economic Recovery Programme (ERP), the Structural Adjustment Programme. (SAP), the Programme of Action to Mitigate the Social Cost of Adjustment, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPIC), the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (I and II) and the NDC’s on-going ‘negotiations’ under IMF technical and financial assistance to stabilize the economy.

If you are not happy with the situation of our country today you can take action, Positive Action! Give CPP power and we will give back power to you by making sure you elect chief executives of your districts, municipal and metropolitan assemblies. The CPP will ensure a mandatory participatory budgeting system at district and community level. You will have a direct say in how funds are used in your community. Positive Action today calls for a democracy that delivers a better quality of life for you.

Positive Action today means rallying behind the CPP, for a return to economic and development planning, with you at the center; a move toward a greater share of ownership of our collective resources with your effective participation; and a revival of our abandoned manufacturing plants, creating new opportunities for you.

Samia Yaba Nkrumah

CPP Chair and Leader