Will CPP Govern Ghana Again?

By William Dowokpor

Ghana is supposed to be a multi-party democracy according to the 1992 Republican Constitution. In accordance with that, there are several political parties operating in the country.

Many of the parties in Ghana have contested at least five general elections since 1992, but only two of them have had the mandate, to govern the country. That leads to the conclusion by many, that Ghana has settled for government produced by political parties.

The statistics from 1992 to present, shows three terms for NDC and two for NPP. A total of 17 years and we are where we are! Nothing to show for it! Unless something drastic happens, the trend might remain the same for a long time and the tyranny of the two party system might prevail; as the lesser of the two evils NDC/NPP at any general election automatically gets the mandate, to run the country down the more.

The Convention People’s Party CPP, which led Ghana to independence and whose governance and developmental record is yet to be equaled by any government in this country, remains a political force to reckon with. But unless that force is organised into a strong vibrant opposition, ready to govern Ghana again, it remains only a force for the benefit of parties other than the CPP.

Which leads to the question “will CPP ever govern Ghana again?”. This question needs to be asked and answered either way, and it needs to be answered by members of the CPP themselves. Those who answer yes must prove in words and in deed; and those who answer nay must get out of the way for the CPP waves to flow through the natural path of leading Ghana to its future glory.

Ghana’s political history has not been perfect. Soon after independence the CPP became target for its opponents. The party was banned after the 1966 coup, and by 1992, when Ghana announced to the whole world that it had resolved to go multi-party democracy; one political party, the CPP remained under a 1966 ban.

To day, the CPP is back, with a lot of catching up to be made in a political arena dominated by the tyrant two NDC/NPP whose style of governance has “replaced policies with politics”, evidenced in the fact that you must be a member of the ruling party, to be eligible for managing a public toilet in Ghana. Public interest does not matter anymore. What matters most to the NDC/NPP administration(s) is party interest.

Consequently, all across the country the people are calling for a third force. They are calling for the CPP to champion the attainment of their aspirations again.

But will the CPP ever govern Ghana again? Evidence indicates an Absolute yes! CPP can and will govern Ghana again. Majority of Ghanaians are looking up to the genuine CPP main stream voice and that alternative transformational vision in Ghanaian politics again. The voiceless majority are now looking up to the CPP to lead them to economic freedom, just like they were led to political freedom in 1957.

Ghanaians are tired of the politics of violence, increasing poverty, disease, squalor, unemployment, constant threats to life and property, unreliable utility and public services, collapsing classrooms; improvised classrooms under tree and students with qualification but cannot enter university; obviously the tyrant two who have governed this country for the past 17 years have failed. CPP must govern again!

Regrettably, the “political campaign revolution” ignited by the CPP during the 2008 elections could not win the party the opportunity to govern Ghana, simply because no profound paradigmatic change in society comes so easily within 12 months of electioneering campaign. Such a change can realistically take place within at least 24 months of hard work on the field.
Many CPP members and in fact some leading members seem to be taking a vacation they have not earned. As a distant third party in the last general elections, the party does not deserve any political off season. This is the time to engage the electorate who asked CPP to wait for their turn in 2012. Comrades of all ranks must be up and doing now!.
This is no time for rest. Of course there were many who expected winning power to be easy sailing with no setbacks, and may feel demoralised by the outcome. That is not the end. In fact it should be the beginning of “forward ever, backward never” movement.
CPP will govern this country again if it proves to be that real third party that can actually pose the threat to the NDC/NPP in the political arena. Given the disappointment by the NDC/NPP tyrant two, CPP detractors will agree that it is a fallacy to say that CPP can never govern this country again! In fact some in NDC/NPP have confessed that 2012 could be CPP’s turn.“could be!”.
Stagnation seems to be prevailing in every sector of the country except in drugs, crime, poverty and corruption. This is because the so called two major parties have enjoyed a “monopoly” in governing the country, even without a workable vision of how to transform it to meet the aspirations of the people.
To succeed, the CPP counter vision was effectively presented to the good people of Ghana in 2008. They saw it. They heard it. But in their wisdom, they advised CPP to wait for 2012. This writer is optimistic that CPP will govern Ghana again, if it continues to offer the different vision from what NDC/NPP have offered so far.
CPP must get out of the “instant victory,” mode, re-enforce and propagate its change agenda to compel the electorate to change the voting pattern in the coming years. CPP campaign for 2012 must begin now! The instant victory method of January to December 2012 may not get the people’s mandate.
It should be expected that CPP efforts to confront the NDC/NPP, domination will be frustrated both from within and without. It is strongly recommended that the CPP takes note of this potential hurdle. If the Comrades are reading, the requirement for governing Ghana again is to take the fight out there and fight the enemy in the external political arena. The real fight is not within, even though it appears to be the case. This writer believes every member of the CPP is useful and has a critical role to play to make the party complete.
The real fight is in the field, at the polling station level, wards, constituency and regions. All energies and efforts must be channeled into propagating the alternative model for transforming and fixing the economy of Ghana once and for all. Times are hard to day, as they were hard in previous NDC/NPP administration(s) People of Ghana are beginning to open up their minds toward changing the political paradigm of NDC/NPP domination. Fortunately, 2008 seems to mark the end of getting the mandate to govern Ghana through vain promises. Alas, Ghanaians got the wrong “change”. Who will deliver the change we can feel in our lives, when the NDC/NPP value remain the SAME.
This writer sees a golden opportunity for the CPP to emerge victorious in 2012. Admittedly, there is a lot of catching up to made. Every prospective CPP flag bearer and parliamentary candidate must get into motion now and so must all party operatives. In fact they must start running now within the rules. They must organise, they must speak and they must point the direction in which this country must go.
At the national level, it is good to know that the recently held CPP family dialogue passed some important resolutions. It is this writer’s, understanding that all stakeholders in the future of the CPP, were at the dialogue at which the resolutions were passed. This writer remains optimistic that implementing the resolutions will change the fortunes of the CPP, come 2012.
But never again, should CPP run an “instant victory” campaign. Never again should CPP fail in an election because it presented itself as disunited party. The party’s flag bearers must be elected at least 24 months to the general elections. It is good to know that the constitutional review committee is working on that with a sense of urgency. The rest must be allowed to follow comradely, in tolerance, unity and peace!
Forward Ever, Backwards Never!