Baakoniaba (B/A), Oct. 15, GNA - Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, flagbearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP), on Tuesday appealed to aspiring parliamentary candidates, organisers and women's organisers of the party to overlook the numerous problems confronting the party and sacrifice for the party's success in the December elections. Dr. Ndoum was speaking at Baakoniaba, near Sunyani in Brong-Ahafo at a seminar organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) for selected parliamentary candidates and organisers of the party in Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Regions.
The seminar was under theme: Towards An Understanding of Party ideology, organisation, strategy and issues for election 2008". "I am confident that the CPP will win the elections, but there's a saying that heaven helps those who help themselves. I am going to play my part and I expect each one of you here to also do likewise", he told the participants.
The CPP flagbearer explained that every political party had its fair share of problems and there was therefore no point for party executives at the grassroots level to complain, but to put in their maximum best to enable the party to annex power. He said "victory was not far from the party, which however did not mean that they should rest on their oars" but rather, each member needs to work harder for the party's victory. Dr. Nduom urged them "to go the extra mile" towards achieving the party's aim of winning at least 100 out of the 230 parliamentary seats, to improve its performance in the 2004 elections in which the party got three seats.
He said the CPP was not hoping for a second round voting, but was going all out for a straight massive win of not less than five million votes to improve upon the party's 100,000 votes in 2004.
Dr Ndoum charged the party's executives and polling station chairmen to target market women and students in a mass registration of new members within the next two months to increase the membership and support base of the party. "Polling station chairmen for example are known to be vote-getters and must concentrate on working to get more votes in the various stations through regular interactions, visits and familiarizing with grassroots members".
"This is more reasonable than conveying people in buses to rally grounds, which is a waste of money. You shouldn't give vain promises to the electorate but to stress on the 10-point agenda for change that Ghanaians can feel in their pockets", he emphasized. He dismissed the perception that the Ashanti Region was reserved for the New Patriotic Party, saying the region was part of Ghana's territory with members of other parties including the CPP. The CPP flagbearer said rallies would soon be held across the region and people would be overwhelmed by the level of the party's support base. Dr Ndoum expressed his worry about the level of support and enthusiasm the party received in Brong-Ahafo and urged the party executives in the region to rise up to the challenge and do well to register and market the party since "the CPP has roots in the region". 15 Oct. 08
