CPP to "test" SFO report on Flag Bearer at Court

Accra, June 2, GNA - The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Monday said it might test alleged incriminating findings of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) against Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the Party's Flag Bearer for Election 2008 in court.

"It's worth pursuing, considering that it could be damaging to the build-up of the Party if at the last minute some opposing party takes such action to mar our bright chances or deny the Party a presidential candidate in December," a Central Committee member of the Party told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.

The Central Committee source said: "I think the CPP Leadership's total silence on the report is a dangerous signal and worrying." One hopes that he would be absolved to enable the Party to concentrate on its forward march to the Flagstaff House.

The source noted that when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was confronted with a similar glitch in 1992, elements within the Party filed a lawsuit against the eligibility of a leading presidential contender, Mr Kwame Pianim, saying the CPP would do same. "We have discussed it at Leadership level before. The Women's League and the Council of Elders have also raised it with the National Chairman, Mr Ladi Nyalander.... We also hear rumours of some individual initiatives from time to time."

During a build-up to the CPP Special National Delegates' Congress in December last year, an Accra-based Lawyer, Mr Bright Akwetey petitioned the Party to consider the SFO report on Dr Nduom's stewardship at the State Enterprises Commission. The report cites a number of alleged wrong doings against Dr Nduom.

The source expressed concern that the Party had come a long way in its struggles to redeem its image from a weak Party to a more credible one and all efforts must be geared towards fortifying the present renaissance.