NDUOM BAFFLES CRITICS

*‘PPP, not a family party’
*C/R executives sworn-in
STORIES: FROM MAGDALENE SEY, CAPE COAST, C/R

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom continues to confound critics who thought it was going to be a more herculean task for him to build a credible party to enter competitively into this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

At the Cape Coast Town Hall last Saturday, January 7, 2012 many onlookers and inquisitive enquirers were caught in awe and virtually dumbfounded when Dr. Nduom and his team sworn into office, a 400-member team to run the affairs of his Progressive People’s Party (PPP) in the Central Region.

A break-down of the 400-member team includes a 20-member team each for all 19 constituencies and a 20-member executive to steer the affairs of the region.
The constituencies include Cape Coast, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Assin North and South, Gomoa West and East, Komenda- Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Mfanstiman East and West, Ajumako Eyan Essiam, Twifo Hemang, Twifo Ati Mokwa, Breman Asikuma Brakwa, Agona West and East Mfuom Ati Mokwa, and many others.
Yesterday the PPP inaugurated a 20-member Western regional executive as well as a 20- member each for all the constituencies in the region at a colourful ceremony at the Takoradi Polytechnic. The teams, according to a source close to the Nduom 2012 campaign team, are currently operating in an interim capacity and their positions would be confirmed at the party’s National Convention that would be convened by the end of February this year.
What baffled many inquisitive lots who thronged the Cape Coast Town Hall was the way and manner Dr. Nduom was able to assemble a 20-member each for all the constituencies in the Central Region and the same number to run the affairs of the region, when indeed most of the so-called established parties even struggle to put in place a team between 10-13 members to run the constituencies.
Addressing the gathering earlier, Dr. Nduom affirmed that the PPP does not belong to any particular family but to all Ghanaians.

“…PPP is not a family property but a political party that belongs to anyone who believes in making Ghana a great and prosperous nation,” Dr. Nduom stressed, adding that “each member has the opportunity to lead the party provided the member is hard-working because this party is open to all from different shades of political divide.”

He disclosed that PPP will by the end of next week be registered as a political entity as documentary preparations have already been forwarded to the Electoral Commission to certify the PPP as a registered political party.

According to him, PPP will go to congress in February to elect office holders to run the affairs of the party.

Dr. Nduom indicated that it was time for the national resources to be vested in the hands of a loyal citizen who thinks about the welfare of Ghanaians in general hence the need for Ghanaians to vote for PPP in this year’s election.
He observed that Ghana is a well-endowed country and must shine and not struggle to ensure that all Ghanaians have jobs, money in their pockets, quality education and have a god source of living.

“These [quality jobs, quality education, good source of living] are what PPP has come to do. We are going to work hard to achieve all these things when Ghanaians give us the nod,” he emphasised.

He also went on to reiterate that PPP is not a break-away party but a party on its own which has opened its arms to welcome anybody from any political party who shares and believes in the ideals of the party.

“We [PPP] will work when the two Ghanaian political Goliaths [NPP and NDC] are sleeping to win the election,” he stated.

Dr. Nduom noted that PPP is an alternative to NPP and NDC and urged Ghanaians to give them the chance.

He indicated that PPP does not believe in violence and cautioned CPP and other political parties not to provoke them.
He also advised party supporters to be civil in their utterances during campaign time for people to respect and have belief in them.

According to him, more people are expressing interest to join the party, adding that PPP will embark on its campaign with vim.

He announced that any polling station executive who will be able to persuade one thousand people to buy the parties membership card at GH¢1.00 will get two thousand Ghana Cedis to embark on his\her activities.

Within a spate of five days, the PPP has been able to put into place executives to run three regions with the Volta Region being the first.
At Hohoe, last week Wednesday, the party managed to put in place a 20-member executive to run all 22 constituencies in the Volta Region with an additional 20 to oversee the affairs of the party in the region.
The process, according to an Nduom 2012 campaign source, is expected to end this week with the inauguration of the Brong Ahafo executives slated for today and then to all three Northern Regions, the Ashanti and the Eastern Regions by the close of the week.
“It did not happen from the blues. We have been working very hard for the last four years. In fact we started the very day that we lost the 2008 elections with the formation of about three groups to go out there to look for people to support the candidature of Dr. Nduom for the 2012 elections and also to boost the numerical strength of the CPP. And today we are seeing the fruits of that hard work,” a member of the Nduom 2012 campaign disclosed.
Although the Nduom supporters automatically became members of the CPP, the Nduom 2012 campaign member further said it was only natural and normal that when Dr. Nduom was frustrated to exit from the CPP, they had no option than to follow the man they consider to be their leader.
Many of the executives who the paper talked to said they were very happy that they now have a party that they can call their own and not that surrogate positions that they held previously under the CPP where people felt the party was theirs and therefore would not respect other members of the party.
“We are building a party that every member would feel a sense of belonging; a sense of ownership; good rapport and camaraderie. Let those who think the CPP is their bonafide property take the party. By the grace of God we will build this party to become winsome and relevant in Ghanaian political history, Kwame Ayoma, a leading member of PPP at the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem constituency told Today.