Change in Government Will not bring Transformation

The 2008 presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, has described the change that occurred in the 2008 general election, culminating in the coming into office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as not the real transformation that would bring improvement in the lives of Ghanaians. He said what occurred in the 2008 election was only a switch of players because the status quo existed and that had manifested in the hardships Ghanaians were currently going through.

Dr Nduom was speaking at the 60th anniversary celebration of the formation of the CPP at Saltpond, the original birthplace of the party. He said what Ghanaians really needed was the CPP which would bring real change to the people, especially to reflect in their pockets. Dr Nduom said Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP fought for political independence and laid the foundation for economic independence which was, however, truncated by some detractors of the CPP with the 1966 coup.

He added that what the country needed now was economic independence, stressing that it was only a CPP administration that would be able to bring that to fruition. Dr Nduom said for that to be realised, members and supporters of the CPP must undertake soul searching and kick out habits and utterances that did not augur well for the forward movement of the party. Dr Nduom stated that for the party to realise its cardinal vision of capturing power, it should exorcise itself of charlatans and unfaithful members who easily gave up on the CPP and sought greener pastures in other parties in power.

He said the leading members who formed the party 60 years ago worked selflessly and tirelessly for the independence of the country and built infrastructure, educational institutions, and health facilities and sought the well-being of the ordinary Ghanaian. He said those great men with Dr Kwame Nkrumah as their leader were committed to the cause of the party unlike some of the current members, who were always in a hurry to support other political parties.

Dr Nduom stated that what would secure political victory for the party was not the name of Dr Nkrumah, the colours of the party, its name and motto but the commitment of the members to the ideals of the party. He said just as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the NDC had been attracting members of the CPP to their fold, it was currently incumbent on the CPP members to undertake serious membership drive to increase the party’s chances of winning power in 2012. Some members of the party, both past and present, were honoured with certificates and citation for their contribution to the party. They included Dr Nkrumah, Mr Kojo Botsio, Mr Kofi Baako, Dr Nduom and Mr George Aggudey