No Nduom, No CPP

Sons and Daughters, Members and hopefuls of the CPP,

It is a known reality that until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth about nature, that suggests that life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator that separates Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, who lives his dreams from those who live in loquacity to regret.
Some of the biggest challenges in our party, CPP, emanates from the fact that most people enter into the party in order to get something. In reality, the only way a party’s organisational structures will last is, if one sees the party as a place that you go to give, and not a place that you go to take.
Firstly, as mentioned above, Dr. Nduom has synonymously demonstrated that he is committed to the CPP through his incessant spiritual, physical, emotional and financial involvement in all facets of the party’s activities. Dr. Nduom’s hard work for the CPP has been undeniable and can be supported with clearly documented facts.
Those whose rationale for opposing Dr. Nduom is based on so-called skirt and blouse voting would do well to study the history of the party they claim allegiance to. In the October 1997 article, Dr. Nduom clearly stated that the only political party that he’s interested in joining is a united Nkrumaist party and that in this country, one cannot run for any political office successfully without the backing of a strong political party. While these words were printed more than 13 years ago, Dr. Nduom’s actions and words to date have clearly reflected that these are still among his core principles.
In the years leading up to the 2000 elections, there was much talk of a unification of the PCP, PNC, CP, and NCP. Many tipped Dr. Nduom as the most likely candidate for the Nkrumaists, but he quickly determined that his time had not come. He called a press conference on the 17th of November, 1999 and declared, in the presence of Mr. Mike Eghan, Mr. Kwesi Pratt and Mr. Kweku Baako, that he was withdrawing himself from consideration for the party’s nomination. Despite this decision, when Professor George Hagan was nominated for the flagbearership of the CPP, Dr. Nduom was one of the strongest supporters of the bid, organized the first durbar for the campaign in his KEEA district. He provided a vehicle for the presidential campaign and donated other logistics and cash. Despite the need to campaign for his own seat in the Central Region, he traveled throughout the country campaigning for Professor Hagan, who received 1.8% of the national vote (114,924 votes). Dr. Nduom’s own campaign was very hotly contested; he was 800 votes short of victory, in a parliamentary result that went to the judicial system and stayed in court until the 2004 election.
The argument that Dr. Nduom did not campaign for Aggudey in 2004 should prompt one to take a closer look at the national results in that year. In the 2004 presidential elections, more CPP votes were cast in the KEEA for Aggudey than in any constituency in the entire country, including Aggudey’s home constituencies of Ada and Sege and in his city of residence, Accra. The constituency of the Dr. Nduom who allegedly campaigned for the NPP provided more CPP votes than any other locality! This argument also begs the question of whether Aggudey supported Dr. Nduom in his local election. Did anyone among the CPP leadership support him to win his seat in 2004? The individual who was instrumental in writing the party’s 2004 manifesto did not receive the support of his party’s leadership during his local campaign. Dr. Nduom supported Aggudey by giving the party a seat in Parliament, winning more votes for Aggudey and the CPP than the presidential candidate won for himself. These are facts. Dr. Nduom has not complained and yet others who have sat on the sidelines year after year have questioned his commitment to the CPP.
Just after the 2007 CPP national congress to elect its National Executives and Flagbearer, some few members including some prominent faces in the party, resorted to activities that tended to derail the credibility of the party because some of them had failed in their bid to be elected or persons whom they preferred for certain positions did not get them. Again, amidst the heated electioneering season in 2008, some cynics of the party even went a further step to cause more problems for the party by casting unnecessary invectives and back-biting avowals. Some members, for reason best known to them, decided it was best to leave the fate of the party in the hands of the flagbearer and some few compatriots. They never campaigned for Dr. Nduom or even join the campaign trail; what they were best known for doing, was to pull off several antics during the electioneering era with the expressed purpose of stunting Dr. Nduom’s presidential bid.
But the most surprising effect of these discoveries is that Dr. Nduom was never deterred or perturbed by the irresponsible activities of these traitors of our dear party. He demonstrated that he was a strong leader who was ready to face and solve challenges, no matter the situation. This is an attribute of a visionary leader, whose agenda cannot be disrupted or intimidated by distractionable tactics. It is sincerely and generally acknowledged that, since 1992 when Ghana was ushered into democratic dispensation, the only time Ghanaians have come to appreciate the C.P.P. as a capable party to win elections was justified when Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom brought new spirit and dimension to the party. He undertook a very dignified campaign which was free from attacks and insinuations but a highly based and embarked on campaign of ideas which went down with many electorates.
Everywhere else in the world, people prepare themselves to lead the country. They don’t just wake up one morning and say that they are ready. Dr. Nduom started as a member of the District Assembly, and has served in virtually every level of government except for the presidency, which he is gunning for. He knows how things are done. He has had a seat at the table and proved that he deserves to lead the party as the flagbearer.
With all due respect to Dr. Nduom’s detractors, it is time to do things differently. People should concentrate on telling Ghanaians what they can offer them. They should stop trying to win elections by undermining other people. I encourage those who have until now spent their time pulling him down to show the party and the country what they have for the people. Let’s run issues of the party based on facts and not on conjectures. I encourage Dr. Nduom’s detractors to come out and say what their candidates can do for Ghana and bring dignity back to the CPP.
NO NDUOM, NO CPP

Yussif Bawa
CPP ACTIVIST (Wa Central)
0277189505
[email protected]