Nduom Is Hot

The media blitz which Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom relished during his showing at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) presidential debates, is being threatened by a simmering credibility crisis which has broken out in the Convention People's Party (CPP).

The CPP leader is struggling to defend the latest mud thrown at him by a leading member of the party, as he glossed over some of the questions posed to him on Accra-based Peace FM yesterday.

The leader and chairman of the party, Ladi Nylander and other CPP gurus are in possession of a tell-tale correspondence which encapsulates the challenges staring the CPP, especially the flagbearer, whose credibility has been shredded by some portions.

Authored by the National Youth Organiser of the party, Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, popularly called Kabila, the correspondence accuses Dr. Nduom of a number of misdemeanours, among which is a secret deal with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on one hand and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on another.

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, according to the National Youth Organiser, is making overtures to both parties with different terms.

“I have information that the flagbearer is making overtures to both the NDC and NPP with different terms,” he stated, explaining that since such things happen in politics, the flagbearer should have involved the leadership of the party in the discussions.

He was categorical with the charge that Dr. Nduom is lobbying for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, with two deputy ministerial positions with regard to his deal with the NPP, while with the NDC “he is calling for a ceasefire on the SFO report and the Ministry of Local Government. For me, these are very serious and the party must know the motive behind them and the repercussions thereof.”

Coming under the spotlight is what the Youth Organizer described as the inability of the party to raise funds, pointing at the issuance of ID cards free of charge.

“People must pay a price for joining a cause. Nothing free is taken serious,” he said, adding that what is worse is that the party has been unable to organize a single fundraising event throughout the year.

According to the Youth Organizer, in spite of the huge media hype which the party is enjoying, the political grouping is non-existent at the constituency and regional levels.

“In the media today, we are doing well and there is a lot of good talk about us especially regarding the performance of the flagbearer at the IEA-sponsored presidential debates, but the truth is we do not exist on the ground,” he stated.

Only good structures, he said, can translate goodwill and all the media hype into votes, adding that “a frank chat with our regional or constituency executives will confirm this point of our weakness on the battlefield”.

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, he stressed, has been running a one-man show without involving others, pointing out that there is lack of coordination in the face of a weak leadership.

He wondered how the party can talk about forming the next government when it cannot guarantee 10 parliamentary seats.

Kabila asked rhetorically about the whereabouts of party stalwarts like Dr. Delle, Prof Dowuona, Dr Nii Moi Thompson, Aggudey and Prof Badu Akosa among others.

“I do not think party business can be about just an individual; it is team work that wins elections. The campaign has been personalized, all about Dr. Nduom and no one else,” he charged.

Hurling a poser at the CPP flagbearer, he asked why the man has not responded to a DAILY GUIDE report dated Monday September 1, 2008 regarding a letter supposed to have been written by him (Nduom) somewhere in June 2007 to the President. “Did he indeed write that letter? Does he still stand by all the issues raised in the letter?”

Dr. Nduom, in that letter to the President, had stated that he was not keen on contesting the 2008 polls and would decide on what to do after the NPP Congress in December.

He said he was going to work in collaboration with the NPP for the 2008 polls but that the terms had to be worked out formally between the two parties.

“What I hope to do is to work in collaboration with the NPP for the 2008 polls but the terms have to be worked out formally this time between the two parties on what happens after the elections,” he wrote in the June 24, 2007 correspondence.

Having toured the country, Kabila observed that there is a lot of discontent and apathy among the core members over what they say is the lack of resources at their level to work with.

“Anytime the flagbearer tours, the membership complained that they are left more demotivated and divided than before the tour,” he said.

Dr. Nduom is also being accused of creating parallel structures and engaging in activities that fall directly under the organs of the party without the involvement of elected officers responsible.

The Youth Organizer cited a case in point as the planned Cape Coast youth rally which was done without his knowledge including the meeting of the TESCHART representatives.

But the campaign strategist of the CPP, David Ampofo accused Kabila of being under the control of the ruling NPP.

Mr Ampofo told Joy FM that Kabila had been bought to cause trouble in the party. “No question about it…I have no reasons to think any other way”.

He said because the CPP is “riding high” and is capable of causing an “upset” in the elections, its opponent is using all means including “buying everybody they can find” to discredit their candidate.

“When we have an incumbent with so much resources and have no shame about buying people and trying to pretend that they are the only one there, then you are not to be too surprised when you see this.

“This is deliberate, it is concocted, it is so underhanded and it is pathetic,” he charged.

CPP General Secretary, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet described the content of the letter as worrying and promised investigations.

By A.R. Gomda