The Ghanaian Journal

The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has declared July as the month of ‘Youth and Segmented Recruitments” with the launch of the programme being performed by the party’s Flagbearer, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom at the Accra Polytechnic in Accra.

The two days event, which started on Monday, June 30, 2008, recorded more than a 1000 new members with the leadership of the party saying, “the exercise is being replicated in all ten regions”.

The exercise is being extended to women’s groups, drivers and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Although the registration has started in earnest, the exercise was inaugurated at the Accra Polytechnic this week with the registration of new members who were either first time voters or just waiting to cast their first vote this year. They are within the ages of 18-22.

Most of the first time voters who said they were all for the CPP said, they were waiting eagerly to register when the Electoral Commission (EC) opens the national voters’ register this month.

The inauguration started with a vigil night at the Accra Polytechnic amid pomp and pageantry as the ecstatic youth mostly from the Accra Poly and the University of Ghana registered from their own volition without any coercion.

Close to five hundred new members were registered on the first day. The party paid for the fees covering their registration, the taking of photographs and party cards. They were addressed by some members of the CPP leadership who later had one-on-one interaction with the students.

While some parliamentary aspirants of the CPP were introduced at the gathering, a choreography depicting Dr. Nkrumah handing over to Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom was played just as a video documentary on Dr. Nduom’s Campaign nationwide tour.
There was also photo exhibition, bonfire and special musical-dance session.

The leadership included 1st Deputy Chairman, Dr. Abu Sakara, National Youth Organizer, James Kwabena Bonfeh and others. Later the Party’s Flagbearer, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom who had returned from a campaign tour of the Ashanti and Central Regions made a surprise stop at the Accra Poly Campus.

His presence rekindled the enthusiasm of the students who after a brief interaction with Dr. Nduom went into overdrive, increasing their drive and commitment in the registration exercise. Their love and commitment to the cause were expressed on many of the play cards that they carried at the programme.

Some of the inscriptions read: “Edwumawura; Change; “We want change that we can feel in our pockets”, and many others. After the brief interaction, the group assured Dr. Nduom of turning up in their numbers during the next day’s walk or procession through some principal streets of Accra.

As promised, the team converged at the Accra Poly campus where they embarked on the walk that went through Poly-Tudu; Kojo Thompson Road-Kwame Nkrumh Circle; TUC-Ghana School of Law back to Accra Poly.

Dr. Nduom then performed the formal launch of the “New Voters Campaign” project then followed by the second day’s registration which recorded some 500 new registration members.