Poor showing of CPP in Election blamed on internal squabbles

Koforidua, Dec.16, GNA- The Akropong Constituency branch of the Convention People's Party (CPP) has blamed the party's poor performance in Election 2004 to internal differences.

The CPP Constituency Education Secretary of the Party, Mr Kofi Akuffo said while some members were trying to push through the party's ideology "Others were ... pushing their personal interests". Mr Akuffo who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Koforidua on Wednesday said these differences undermined public confidence in the party.

He spoke against the overt support some parliamentary candidates of the party gave to re-elected President John Agyekum Kufuor and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), which became known as " skirt and blouse".

Mr Akuffo said while the NPP was campaigning against the skirt and blouse pattern of voting, "It was obvious that some CPP parliamentary candidates were preaching that message".

He described the three parliamentary seats won by the CPP as "Very disappointing" considering the fact that they were constituencies ceded to the party by the NPP.

He however, noted with satisfaction the smooth conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections and congratulated the NPP for the good contest they put up to emerge victorious.