I'm CPP but voted for Akufo-Addo – Kweku Baako

Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako Jr. has said even though he is a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), he votes for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in presidential elections.

Speaking at the 13th Kronti ne Akwamu lecture organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana on the theme “Search for Accountability Government Under the fourth republic”, Mr Baako said: “I’m a member of the CPP, yes that’s true but I have difficulties with party’s policies and decisions and the party leaders know that.”

“I prefer to focus on growing the party through parliament rather than boxing the two together – presidential and parliamentary with our limited resources. In a multiparty democracy, if you have even 10 members of parliament, you have a voice and I’ve been saying this for a long time and I was in the tiny minority. I was once time dragged to the disciplinary committee so I took a backseat but you’d be surprised, go and check, come elections, I mobilise logistics and funding for CPP constituencies. At least I adopt about 20, 30 and I do that. The evidence is available. This time I printed T-shirts and posters of select constituencies where I think we have the potential in order to gain the parliamentary presence,” he told the audience.

He said as far as the presidential election is concerned, “Unfortunately I’ve told the CPP that I can’t follow them, they don’t agree so I vote NPP. Yes because the other alternative is the NDC and I can’t so I vote NPP. That’s the truth, you can call that bias, I can live with it.”