‘Unite, be disciplined & win Election ‘12’

The Convention People’s Party’s (CPP’s) Presidential Candidate for the 2008 General Elections, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has said that contrary to popular opinion the CPP can position itself to win next year’s elections and form the next national administration in 2013.

Speaking to Today in an interview, he said that is possible, but will happen if and only if CPP members are ready to put aside all differences and sacrifice what it takes to adhere to party codes of discipline and work hard to forge unity among their ranks.Internal unity and discipline, Dr. Nduom contends, are crucial elements to which all CPP faithful(s) and members must adhere to strictly if they all anticipate a resounding victory for the party in the 2012 General Elections.

“We need to unite, be disciplined, and when we do this [two] we can win the 2012 General Election,” Dr. Nduom re-affirmed.Dr. Nduom explained that the concept of internal unity, which used to be supreme in the CPP, is not new to members, “yet… it is this same principle that some party members cast aside any time they disagreeably disagree with other CPP members on any issue.”

He did not mince words in pointing out that one factor that has affected the electoral fortunes of the CPP since the birth in this Fourth Republic is the “lack of internal unity.”“Since 1992, anytime we organise congress we tend to come out [of it] often divided. In fact, the lack of unity within our ranks is what has hurt us most in the past,” he recounted.Turning his attention to the contemporary, Dr. Nduom pointed out that there is the danger of the CPP dividing its own front if the present crop of leadership does not go strictly by the party’s constitution.He thus advised the current national officers of the CPP to ensure that in their appointments of officers and formations of committees they go strictly by the party’s constitution.

Against this backdrop, he affirmed the need for the party to show ‘zero tolerance for indiscipline,’ adding that, it must not hesitate in cracking the whip on members who will go contrary to the party’s constitution in these crucial times.

Dr. Nduom noted that issues of differences amongst party members must be addressed by CPP internal structures. That is what the internal structures are there for and it in the interest of party unity for aggrieved members to avail themselves of the opportunity these structures offer.

“We should always strive to address all party differences internally and when we do that we will always have a common front for victory in 2012,” he advised.The 2008 flag-bearer of the CPP indicated that the situation where a section of the party’s members and executives tend to express their disquiet about internal party issues in the media does not inure to the benefit of the party.“A house that is divided against itself cannot stand,” Dr. Nduom intimated.