TCP Fails to Woo Kwabena Darko

The yet to be born Traditional Congress Party (TCP) has made a false start in its aspiration to contest the 2004 elections. The party is trying to woo well-known astute politicians into leadership positions with difficulty.

The hope of the new party to draft Rev. Dr. Kwabena Darko, the 1992 Presidential candidate for the National Independent Party (NIP), to be part of the leadership has been shattered.

Even before the party's US based Organising Committee could contact the poultry magnate, Rev. Darko had declined the request.

The Chronicle had had hints that the TCP had contacted Rev. Darko earlier and wanted to find out his reaction to TCP's request, which turned out to be outright rejection. "

I am not interested," he told this reporter, and stated that nobody had approached him, neither had he met any person(s) to discuss the issue of being part of TCP's leadership.

Rev. Darko, who currently has an advisory role to play in the NPP government, said it is no longer the question of ideology in Ghanaian politics.

The major issue now is to ensure that democracy works alongside the rule of law and good governance, he said.

"Now that there is a real democratic system in place my support is 100 per cent for President Kufuor."

According to Rev. Darko, Ghanaians now have somebody (Prez. Kufuor) who is really doing what he (Darko) had wanted done.

He noted that " Ghana does not need many parties," saying a few strong political parties would work for the growth of democracy and the good of Ghana.

Rev. Darko described the President as receptive who has so far not snubbed anybody.

"He has supported the press to set the right foundation for democracy.

The police are being given a new face and now there is harmony between the police and the army, while the other arms of government (Judiciary and Legislature) are freely going about their constitutional tasks without any hindrance," he observed.

Darko commended the sense of responsibility and dedication of Ministers of State and government appointees who, he said, were doing their best and, therefore, should be given the chance to prove their worth.

In his assessment of the Kufuor government, Rev. Darko said soon Ghana would be brought back to the former glory as the star of Africa, following positive responses to efforts by the government to build a network and source investment to revamp the economy.

The business man-cum-Reverend Minister condemned critics of the President, saying Prez. Kufuor has done "very well" to have established concrete relationships on the international scene the past 19 months he has been in office to justify his foreign trips.

"It is a credit on the part at the President for the network so far built to support the economy and I will give him a plus for that."

He, however, said a lot had to be done in the agric sector and identified agric financing as a major issue.

He suggested that rice production should be re-organised. With this stand by Darko, the TCP will have to look elsewhere.

The Chronicle has gathered that the TCP is frantically making the search. Names that have come up include Mr. Kwame Pianim, an economic consultant.

He is being sought to become a Founding Member and TCP's interim General Secretary.

The party has already taken the first step and written to Pianim for his response. It he accepts the offer, Pianim would have a major role in the decision making process and development of the party. He would also be required to provide inputs to the party's constitution.

The Chronicle can also reveal that the founders of TCP intend wooing Alhaji Asoma Banda.

The party is currently exploring all lines of communication to get to the shipping tycoon.

The objective of TCP is to seek the mandate of the people to bring economic relief and prosperity to Ghanaians by tackling issues bordering on education, health care, development of the private sector and decentralisation of political power.

TCP, which first announced presence in 2000, backed out of the elections because it had not organised well to register as a party.

The founder and chairman of the party, Dr. Anthony Kwabena Toku, who is also an elder of the Christ Apostolic International Church, USA, has announced that the party would be registered next year after its congress.

Already TCP has shifted into top gear in its bid to become the next government. It has started grassroots organisation at the universities and very soon TCP fan clubs would emerge on the campuses.

According to Dr. Toku he had met with student representatives of Cape Vars, Legon, KNUST and Central Gospel in August to deliberate on the membership drive for the party.

The yet to be born Traditional Congress Party (TCP) has made a false start in its aspiration to contest the 2004 elections. The party is trying to woo well-known astute politicians into leadership positions with difficulty.

The hope of the new party to draft Rev. Dr. Kwabena Darko, the 1992 Presidential candidate for the National Independent Party (NIP), to be part of the leadership has been shattered.

Even before the party's US based Organising Committee could contact the poultry magnate, Rev. Darko had declined the request.

The Chronicle had had hints that the TCP had contacted Rev. Darko earlier and wanted to find out his reaction to TCP's request, which turned out to be outright rejection. "

I am not interested," he told this reporter, and stated that nobody had approached him, neither had he met any person(s) to discuss the issue of being part of TCP's leadership.

Rev. Darko, who currently has an advisory role to play in the NPP government, said it is no longer the question of ideology in Ghanaian politics.

The major issue now is to ensure that democracy works alongside the rule of law and good governance, he said.

"Now that there is a real democratic system in place my support is 100 per cent for President Kufuor."

According to Rev. Darko, Ghanaians now have somebody (Prez. Kufuor) who is really doing what he (Darko) had wanted done.

He noted that " Ghana does not need many parties," saying a few strong political parties would work for the growth of democracy and the good of Ghana.

Rev. Darko described the President as receptive who has so far not snubbed anybody.

"He has supported the press to set the right foundation for democracy.

The police are being given a new face and now there is harmony between the police and the army, while the other arms of government (Judiciary and Legislature) are freely going about their constitutional tasks without any hindrance," he observed.

Darko commended the sense of responsibility and dedication of Ministers of State and government appointees who, he said, were doing their best and, therefore, should be given the chance to prove their worth.

In his assessment of the Kufuor government, Rev. Darko said soon Ghana would be brought back to the former glory as the star of Africa, following positive responses to efforts by the government to build a network and source investment to revamp the economy.

The business man-cum-Reverend Minister condemned critics of the President, saying Prez. Kufuor has done "very well" to have established concrete relationships on the international scene the past 19 months he has been in office to justify his foreign trips.

"It is a credit on the part at the President for the network so far built to support the economy and I will give him a plus for that."

He, however, said a lot had to be done in the agric sector and identified agric financing as a major issue.

He suggested that rice production should be re-organised. With this stand by Darko, the TCP will have to look elsewhere.

The Chronicle has gathered that the TCP is frantically making the search. Names that have come up include Mr. Kwame Pianim, an economic consultant.

He is being sought to become a Founding Member and TCP's interim General Secretary.

The party has already taken the first step and written to Pianim for his response. It he accepts the offer, Pianim would have a major role in the decision making process and development of the party. He would also be required to provide inputs to the party's constitution.

The Chronicle can also reveal that the founders of TCP intend wooing Alhaji Asoma Banda.

The party is currently exploring all lines of communication to get to the shipping tycoon.

The objective of TCP is to seek the mandate of the people to bring economic relief and prosperity to Ghanaians by tackling issues bordering on education, health care, development of the private sector and decentralisation of political power.

TCP, which first announced presence in 2000, backed out of the elections because it had not organised well to register as a party.

The founder and chairman of the party, Dr. Anthony Kwabena Toku, who is also an elder of the Christ Apostolic International Church, USA, has announced that the party would be registered next year after its congress.

Already TCP has shifted into top gear in its bid to become the next government. It has started grassroots organisation at the universities and very soon TCP fan clubs would emerge on the campuses.

According to Dr. Toku he had met with student representatives of Cape Vars, Legon, KNUST and Central Gospel in August to deliberate on the membership drive for the party.