CPP/PNC to merge - Samia

Takoradi, June 11, GNA - Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, Chairperson of the Convention People's Party (CPP), has hinted that the CPP and the People's National Convention (PNC), may be fully merged into one political party in 2017.

She explained that the political alliance between the CPP and the PNC for the 2016 elections, was to ensure the continuation of Kwame Nkrumah's vision.

'The year 2016 will be the 50th anniversary of the illegal overthrow of Nkrumah. They stopped your father's work and in 2016 we will show Ghanaians that Nkrumah never dies,' she revealed.

She continued "one of the steps we are taking is to ensure the political alliance with the PNC. While we are doing that, we are also consulting our leaders and party members about full merger perhaps in 2017".

"So in 2016 the CPP and PNC will have a single presidential candidate; and the parliamentary candidates where CPP is strong, CPP will go and where PNC is strong, PNC will go," she added.

The CPP Chairperson was addressing the Western Regional Delegates' Congress in Takoradi during which new officers of the party for the region were elected.

Ms Samia pointed out that the political alliance between the two parties did not mean that the CPP would lose its ideologies, or its ideals would be sacrificed.

"Nothing will be done to compromise the fortunes of our great party, so if you hear any rumours don't be afraid. We are not going to sell the CPP. The CPP exists to finish the unaccomplished agenda of Nkrumah," she stressed.

She charged members of the party in the region to rally solidly behind their leaders, stressing that the party should win some seats in the area, come 2016.

"If some party activists are discouraged or want to give up, you in this region should stand firm because you once produced one of the best president the nation has had", she noted.

The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, in an interview mentioned that the party was trying to win back some key seats in the region.

"This will mean that there should be strong candidates and leaders in the region, to be able to prosecute the party's agenda", he added.

According to him, with unity among the party members, the CPP was able to win the Kumbungu seat, adding that with hard work the party could regain some seats in the region.

Kwabena Tumi, a staunch member of the CPP in the region was elected Regional Chairman.

He garnered 162 votes to beat his only contender Alfred Mussey who had 48 votes.

Michael Andoh and James Tetteh Ahiawey, were elected regional organizer and youth organizer respectively.

The elected regional chairman thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him, and pledged to work for the party to regain some seats the party had lost in the area.

GNA