CPP considers Nduom's comeback

General Secretary of the Convention People's Party, Ivor Greenstreet, has told TV3 the party is not ruling out the possibility of recalling its former Flagbearer Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom back into its fold.

Mr. Greenstreet admitted that the party's abysmal performance in the 2012 general elections was enough evidence to conclude that Dr. Nduom's exit from the party affected them hugely.

Prior to the 2012 general elections, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, who had led the party in 2008, broke away to form the Progressive People's Party, PPP.

His reasons were that there were internal machinations to prevent him from leading the party in 2012 and to oust him out of the party.

Under Dr. Nduom's leadership in the CPP in 2008, the party polled over 20,000 votes nationwide representing 1.3 percent of the total votes cast.

The figure however saw a sharp decrease in 2012, when Dr. Abu Sakara, who was then Dr. Nduom's running mate in 2008, now led as the Flagbearer.

The party managed a meager 0.1 percent of the total votes cast.

To deepen its woes, Samia Nkrumah, now the party's National Chairperson, lost the Jomoro constituency which was the party's only parliamentary seat.

Dr. Nduom, a successful entrepreneur with many investments across the country, was also considered a financial backbone for the party.

Mr. Ivor Greenstreet admitted in an interview with TV3, that Dr. Nduom's exit which could have been avoided caused them more harm than good.

"Clearly, it didn't help us during the last election and so that formed part of our own analysis in terms of what could be considered as not managing our own internal situation as well as we could have done".

Mr. Greenstreet did not rule out Dr. Papa Nduom's recall in the party's plans in their quest to strengthen the CPP. Although Mr. Greenstreet could give a definite answer to the question "Would you love to have him (Dr. Nduom) back"? his response appeared affirmative.

"He is an important person in Ghana's politics and he has paid his dues as a leading figure in this nation. And at the appropriate time, I think we are all opened and ready to consider all possibilities that are in the best interest of this country" he said.

But will Dr. Nduom readily discard the PPP he is investing so much to build and return to the CPP seeing that his PPP has the propensity to become the third force in the coming years?

And even if he returns, would he be accepted by those who see him as a traitor and given the needed support to lead the CPP again?

What then happens to other persons who have ambitions to lead the CPP in the near future such as the National Chairperson Samia Nkrumah, who is obviously inspired by her father Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President.

CPP/PNC merger

Mr. Ivor Greenstreet says the CPP as part of building a formidable force is still looking forward to the longstanding intended merger with the People's National Convention, PNC, ahead of the 2016 elections.

"Our poor performance in the past, both the CPP and PNC have felt it has been due to the fact of this division between us and the fact that Ghanaians are saying we should come together and work together to fight hard in our own interest. The PNC and the CPP have both come to the same conclusion".

Mr. Greenstreet is optimistic that this time round, the merger may turn out positive.

Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Bossman Asare told TV3 the merger has become more crucial now than ever since the two Nkrumaists appear to be sinking deeper individually.

"If anything at all, they are really going down so if the two of them have decided that they are coming together, field on candidate in each constituency, perhaps have one presidential candidate; then this is something which is going to be very good. But I also think that beyond this, they should also be thinking about what is so different about the Nkrumah tradition; how is that different from the NPP and the NDC; because if you are presenting a posture people can see both in the NDC and the NPP, then it means you are not bringing anything new" he noted.