First son of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Ghana’s first president, Sekou Nkrumah is calling for a merger of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the party his father founded.
Just minutes after President-elect, John Evans Atta-Mills gave his acceptance speech to the nation upon his victory in his Kuku Hill office, Mr. Nkrumah told reporter, Kuuku Smith that the only way for the CPP’s survival is to amalgamate with the NDC since years of dormancy has almost killed the party his father founded and loved so dearly.
On his return to Ghana about three years ago to start a political career, Mr. Nkrumah told the media that the only viable party that satisfies his fathers ideals is the NDC which was founded by former dictator, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
Mr. Nkrumah’s sister, Samia Yaaba Nkrumah to a similar step to nurture a political career in her father’s homeland of Ghana but decided to stick strictly to her father’s tradition. She Joined the CPP to the admiration of many. She is currently the Member of Parliament-elect for Jomoro after she toppled the three term incumbent, Lee Ocran of the NDC.
Samia is the only CPP member to have won a seat in parliament but has refused to join either of the NPP or NDC as the two dominant parties battled to woo other parties elected members of the legislature to form a majority. She has promised to vote on issues and not on partisan lines.
The CPP itself came of out of the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections badly bruised. Its candidate, Papa Kwesi Nduom disappointingly failed to gain half of the votes of either the NPP or NPP, the parties he had vowed to win against. From three members in the legislature, the CPP has only Samia Nkrumah in the next parliament which will be inducted on January 7th.
As sound as Mr. Nkrumah’s suggestions appear to be, many CPP members are of the view that Professor Akosa could reenergize the party if given the chance a presidential candidate in the 2012 General Elections and may kick against the move.
