Delle to contest CPP 2008 Presidential slot

Accra, June 03, GNA - Dr. Edmund Nminyem Delle, Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP), will contest the party's 2008 Presidential slot, a source told the GNA on Saturday.

Indications are that, party faithful, who described Dr Delle as the 'Political Moses,' are expecting him to lead the CPP on its final journey to victory in Elections 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections," the source at CPP headquarters stated.

The source said integrity, dedication and courage of Nkrumaism would be his guiding principles to mobilise the masses to support the party for an electoral show down with the so-called bigger parties. He emphasised that the Nkrumaist tradition, which won independence for the country, had the ''obligation to redeem Ghanaians from the deplorable conditions they find themselves in order to recapture the leading role in Africa's search for economic development''.

Meanwhile, Dr. Delle in an interview with the GNA refuse to either confirm or refute the assertion noting; "As the chairman my prime focus now is to build strong party structures to win the next elections, irrespective of whoever wins the Presidential slot."

He said: I stand for ''leadership of truth, service and integrity'' and with these credentials whatever capacity Ghanaians and my party called me to serve, who am I to refuse."

He called for unity and discipline from all ranks of the membership for effective rebuilding the party, adding that politicians should learn to tolerate dissenting views "since we are living in a pluralistic and democratic society."

He said the country need to survive and flourish with a buoyant economy and to achieve this, he called for accountability in the management of the country's finances.

Dr. Delle, who is also a human rights activist, emphasised the need for Ghanaians to institute internal measure to salvage the economy and not to depend on external directives.

He said it has become necessary for Ghanaians to collectively identify the country's priorities and to find long-term solutions to her economic problems regardless of which political party is in power. Education, he said, is paramount in the development of every country, especially in the current technological age and appealed to the government to take steps to address the falling standards of education in the country.

At the Second National Delegates Congress of the CPP in September 2003, Dr. Delle, polled 1,008 votes for the position of a National Chairman, beating Dr. Iddi Egala, a Chartered Accountant, who ran a very active campaign, to the second place with 394 votes, while Mr Felix Amoah, an Electrical Engineer, came third with 272 votes. Mrs. Araaba Bentsi-Enchil Svenson, a Political Scientist and the only female contestant in the national executive polls, polled a surprise victory over seasoned politicians to become the First National Vice-Chairman with 635 votes.

Mr Mike Eghan, a Veteran Broadcaster, was elected the Second National Vice-Chairman with 396 votes, whilst Mr Johnny Hansen another Veteran Politician, became the Third Vice-Chairman with 240 votes. Professor Nii Noi Dowuona also retained his position as General Secretary with a wide margin of 1,156 to beat two contestants - Mr. Kwasi Baidoo, 445 votes and Mr Ganiyi Akanni Balogun, 85 votes. Mr. Martin Donkor retained his position as National Treasurer by beating Mr Ekow Duncan, Management Consultant with 1,219 votes against 465.

Mr. George Opersika Aggudey, a Businessman, won the overwhelming approval of the Congress to become the Presidential candidate for the 2004 General Election.

Mr. Aggudey, the Chief Executive of Gocrest Security, a private security firm, obtained 1,216 votes from the 1,800 delegates at the congress to beat Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama, a veteran politician and a Tamale-based legal practitioner, who trailed with 461 votes. 03 June 06