The Ghanaian Journal

*Party executives behind move

After braving a major thwart conspiracy in the Convention People’s Party’s (CPP) presidential nomination December last year, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom is yet again at the centre of the same plot, albeit carefully repackaged. Shockingly, architects of the earlier plot are the protagonists of the latest move. The only difference though is the modus operandi.

The potent arsenal being used by the coupists, is the discredited Serious Fraud Office investigation report, which allegedly made some incriminating findings against the CPP Presidential Candidate, during the period that he served as the lead consultant to the State Enterprises Commission (SEC), in the mid nineties.

A member of the Council of Elders of the CPP, Lucy Enin is the latest pawn in the grand plot being recycled by some members of the Patriots group within the CPP. Interestingly, members of the group hold key executive positions in the party.

They include Women’s Organizer, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Haruna, National Organizer, Evelyn Alamisi Alabira and National Youth Organizer, James Kwabena Bomfeh with background support from Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa, one of the aspirants in the party’s presidential elections.

Last week, Madam Enin held a press conference, castigating the CPP for the wrongful choice it made, in the selection of Dr. Nduom as the CPP Presidential Candidate.

The press conference was attended by Evelyn Alamisi, Hajia Hamdatu and James Kwabena Bomfeh. The text was prepared by Kwabena Bomfeh who also doubled as the MC for the occasion. Although Prof. Akosa graced the occasion, he strategically lurked around the International Press Centre, the venue of the event and our information suggests that he had foreknowledge about the event.

The latest move, our sorties have discovered is the last desperate move being resorted by the Nduom hackers after failing to influence CPP Regional and Constituency Executives to ignore the progress being made by Dr. Nduom in the run-up to the December elections and rather concentrate on improving upon the party structures.

Obviously, Prof. Akosa has his sight set for 2012 where he believed he can annex the CPP Flagbearship and has subtly gone underground to scuttle Nduom’s presidential bid. That explains why he lobbied the CPP leadership to offer him the re-organizational portfolio. And when his wish was not granted, he refused to accept the party’s proposal that he becomes the CPP Spokesperson on Health.

On countless occasions, Prof. Akosa has refused to accompany Dr. Nduom on his campaign trail, although the CPP Flagbearer at one point did the most unthinkable bent-knee-bid in the home of the former Executive Director of the Ghana Health Service to get him on board his campaign.

Report gathered by the journal suggests that all three elected members are likely to face the punitive rod of the party. The party has set the records straight on its reactions are in the unfolding imbroglio.

According to the CPP, it has a Disciplinary Committee to deal with acts that discredit the party and its electoral fortunes and advised party supporters to be firm in their resolve to take the CPP to greater heights.

Also in a statement, the CPP said it has no plans to test the so-called SFO report about Dr. Nduom. It said the matter was taken up by the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting held before the December 2007 Congress where after extensive discussions on the issue, following a presentation on the subject, the decision was arrived at that Dr. Nduom was qualified to contest the elections in 2008.

“It is one that over the years has received a lot of official and unofficial attention. For the avoidance of doubt, it is important for all to note that Dr. Nduom was not the subject of SFO investigation. It was the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) that was investigated. Dr. Nduom was one of the consultants, whose activities and contracts were reviewed by the SFO”, the CPP noted.

According to the CPP leadership, allegations were made against him and other consultants who provided services to SEC, but the matter was discontinued and no official report was issued.

“The allegations resurfaced during the vetting of Dr. Nduom in February 2001, which led to an extensive review of tax and other records provided, but Parliament consequently cleared Dr. Nduom to become a Minister of State”, the party said.

She deceived the Amua-Awuah led Council of Elders about her real intentions on the subject that she intended to share with the general public. Madam Enin had informed the Council of an intention to express concerns about how the CPP is best placed to take advantage of current Ghanaian stupor to win this year’s election and therefore imperative for the leadership of the party to work hard to fill the obvious void.

The day comes and Madam Enin was at her vituperative best reducing the entire press conference to a derogatory Nduom event.