Symbols And Names Don’t Win Elections

Two leading members of the Convention People's Party (CPP) have stated that the over reliance on the name, symbol and motto of the CPP would not earn the party the capability to attract voters to win power.

According to the two, what the party needs are dedicated members and leaders who would work assiduously to prove to Ghanaians that the CPP is a credible government in waiting, not in words but in deed.

Story by Donald Ato Dapatem

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, CPP Member of Parliament for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) and Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the party, were speaking on an Accra radio station.

They both agreed that all the members and the leadership of the party were partly to blame for the current precarious situation that the party finds itself in.

According to Dr Nduom, who is also the Minister for Public Sector Reform, he was ready to join any new Nkrumaist group that would not cling to names and mottos and slogan and fail to work hard to make the party visible in all parts of the country.

He stated that he wanted change and that any transformational move by any groups that would brighten the fortunes of the Nkrumaist party, would have his support.

“If there is going to be any new group who are serious and unity-minded for all Nkrumaists, attract other voters to their fold as well as take the message of the party to every village and hamlet in Ghana I will support them”, he added.

Dr Nduom was evasive as to whether he was part of a new group that was preparing the grounds to form a new Nkrumaist political party aside from the CPP, the People's National Convention (PNC) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).

Concerning the Patriots, a group within the party that had concerned itself with building the structures of the CPP, Dr Nduom made it clear that he was not a member, neither did he hate them.

He said much as the Patriots claimed to be concerned with strengthening the party, they should also not be agitated when other people also concern themselves with the betterment of the party.

Dr Nduom took a swipe at members of the party who were not perturbed by the current problems bedevilling the CPP but had concerned themselves with only becoming the presidential candidates of the party whose structures are weak.

He advised them to venture into contesting as parliamentary candidates in their various constituencies as a way of making the party visible and strong at the grass roots.

Mr Pratt, who is also the Managing Editor of The Insight newspaper was of the view that the tug of war between Nkrumaists about the supremacy of the red cockerel or the coconut as the symbol for a united Nkrumaist party was unnecessary.

He said symbols alone could not win victory for any party, because what Ghanaians were looking for was a united political party that would improve their lot.

He added that many Ghanaians after tasting the administration of the NDC and that of the NPP, had come to the realisation that maybe the CPP would be the best, but, unfortunately, the CPP was not attracting votes to form a government to meet the aspirations of Ghanaians.

Mr Pratt condemned members of the CPP who in their bid to satisfy their personal interests have not kept faith with the CPP and moved to other political traditions. He urged them to be content with their party and work towards its stability.

He asked members of the CPP to take a cue from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) whose predecessor enjoyed power for only 27 months from 1969, but its members had kept faith with the tradition and have worked to strengthen the party over the years till they finally won power in 2000.