on the occasion of the 59th Anniversary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP)
At the Congress of the Party in Kumasi on December 17th, I promised the delegates that I would make the CPP proud in 2008. I am pleased to renew this pledge to the leadership and members of the greatest political tradition in Africa, the CPP.
Our Party believes in Self-Determination, Social Justice and Pan-Africanism. These are ideals I believe in and will work hard to project throughout the course of the 2008 campaign and beyond. More than any time in our history as a nation, our independence is threatened by policies that have made our country reliant on foreign donors. Over 70% of what we eat and use in Ghana is imported. This threatens the viability of our local private sector – those who have put their faith in the Ghanaian economy by investing locally. It reduces the self respect and confidence of our people. On the occasion of the anniversary of the CPP, my goal is to lead the quest for Self-Determination by using the purchasing power and authority of government to support our local industries, our farmers and fishermen so that we can eat and use what we produce at home.
I will employ the same sense of urgency that led Africa’s Personality of the 20th Century, the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to win independence to wage a relentless war on poverty and win. This is what will bring Social Justice to our people while we pursue sensible economic policies. It is for this reason that I will implement free and compulsory education from kindergarten to senior high school. This will be accompanied by science and technology education particularly computer training. Standard schools will be built throughout the country with classrooms, libraries, dining facilities, science and computer laboratories, toilet facilities, housing for teachers etc.
As part of implementing Social Justice in Ghana, corruption and the drug trade will be fought aggressively. This will be done by creating data bases to help check crime and corruption. Driver’s license and passport duplication, lack of a credible credit data base to fight bank fraud, crime information system to help the police and prosecutors will be targets of this system. I will separate the Ministry of Justice and the Office of Attorney General to make the prosecutor’s office more independent from politicians and enable it to fight corruption and work better with the police and judiciary. My plan includes strengthening the Narcotics Board and will give it the necessary resources to enable the Board to fight the problem more effectively.
I want to use this occasion to highlight part of my legislative agenda to strengthen Parliament, give it offices, technology and research support to become an effective source of checks and balances to the Presidency. I will sponsor amendment to the Constitution to stop the practice of Members of Parliament also serving as Ministers of State so that the MPs can concentrate on being law makers.
The CPP is a national party that believes in the people. That is why I will support amending the Constitution to make it possible for the people to elect their District/Municipal/Metropolitan Chief Executives to bring greater accountability to the people and enhance local development.
It is time that the CPP came back to lead the fight for the unity of African people. We believe in Pan-Africanism. We will make it good once again for Africans in the Diaspora to look to Ghana as the embodiment of the new African, proud, prosperous, free and exhibiting all the characteristics of the African Personality.
It will give our Party so much justice to be in power, back to the Flagstaff House during our 60th Anniversary in 2009 after all the injustices perpetrated on our members in 1966. I call on all our people to unite, join hands and use all our resources to bring hope to Ghanaians by working hard to win victory for the CPP on December 7, 2008. A win for the CPP is a win for all Ghanaians.
It is the wish of the majority of Ghanaians that change should come in December. We should work together to bring change Ghanaians can feel in their pockets. This should be the goal and desire of all Nkrumaists in Ghana and abroad.
Happy Anniversary!
Forward Ever, Backward Never!
Yeresesamu! Edwumawura is Coming Back!
Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, MP
CPP Presidential Candidate
11 June 2008
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