Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoum, the immediate past Minister of Public Sector Reforms and Presidential aspirant of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has broken his long silence on his relationship with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). The CPP aspirant who was accused by his party members of being ‘swallowed’ by the NPP to the disadvantage of his own party has stated that, “Ghanaians are tired of diverse politics. I believe strongly in inclusiveness.”
According to him his experience in the NPP Administration had given him the strength and the ability to reach out to other political party members to find a common ground in solving the problems facing our only country Ghana. “I am convinced that a non-partisan approach in governance will move us speedily out of our present state as a Third World. This includes finding an effective way to harness the experience, expertise, work habit and financial strength of the one commodity that will always be ours – our hardworking people abroad for the benefit of our country.”
The KEEA legislator made this observation at a fund raising gathering in the San Francisco Bay area, California organized and sponsored by ‘Citizens for a Better Ghana’, a Non-Partisan Organization dedicated to identifying and supporting people who can lead Ghana to become free from poverty.
‘Citizens for a Better Ghana’ has chapters throughout North America, Europe, Ghana and South Africa. He explained that he participated in the Kufuor Administration following approval by the CPP’s Central Committee. He said, “I had not planned to be part of the Administration but when asked and with the approval of my party, I took it as an opportunity to serve my country”. Dr. Nduom further stated that he worked for all Ghanaians and not NPP.
Dr. Nduom who confirmed his intention to contest the CPP flagbearership race promised to do a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks or insults. The aspirant who considered himself as a Team Builder and Unifier in both business and politics, said, “Ghanaians know the conditions they live in. They know the difficulties they are in. They know the challenges they face as they seek better jobs, a better health care system, a decent roof over their heads, good drinking water, electricity and other social infrastructure and a social safety net in times of need. What they need is someone to offer hope that the quality of their lives would improve soon. What they need is someone who can implement solutions that can and will bring benefits quickly to all Ghanaians. I am here to offer myself as that someone.”
Dr. Nduom explained that he had worked with other leading members of the party to bring Nkrumaist parties together to form the PCP. “With the Hon. Freddie Blay as our lawyer, Mr. Mike Eghan and others, we developed the strategy to get back the name CPP to restore the party that won for Ghana its independence to the political scene. I have worked in various capacities including that of Chairman of the Organisation Committee and a member of the Central Committee of the Party. I have been one of the leaders of the internal struggle within the CPP to strengthen the leadership and to re-vitalise the CPP by appointing spokespersons to articulate what we stand for so that we can make it the more competitive and appealing to the youth”.
He promised to ensure that District Chief Executives and all Assembly Members were elected by the local people and not appointed by the President as is currently the case, to ensure concentration on the growth and development of the local economy.
According to Dr. Nduom, “The enemies we face in Ghana today are low investment, low skills, poor infrastructure, short term measures and blinkered horizons. I an unashamedly long termist” he declared.
