Nduom Is Not Fit To Be Flag-Bearer - Bright

Bright Akwetey, a former presidential aspirant of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), says while he is not undermining the effort of the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, to win the December election, he is against his candidature.

'I am against his candidature because I do not think he is the best person for the CPP, let alone to be President of Ghana,' he told the Times yesterday.

'He cannot win the election with this record,' he said, referring to the allegations leveled against Dr Nduom in a Serious Fraud Office report.

Mr. Akwetey was reacting to certain pronouncements by the Nduom campaign team at a news conference in Accra on Tuesday, to the effect that some contenders, including Mr. Akwetey, who lost the CPP flagbearership contest, were undermining Dr Nduom’s efforts as leader of the CPP to win the December poll.

'I have nothing to do with what is going on now. I am not behind it,' he said, and added that the membership of the party was not aware of the SFO report when they went to congress to elect the flagbearer. 'So if after congress, people are aware and are talking, why are you blaming me?'

He told the Times that he has nothing to do with Mr. F.A. Jantuah, a founding member of the party, andothers who have called on Dr. Nduom to go to court to clear his name, describing them as 'very intelligent people who have held public office before.'

'They believe the one who will replace Dr. Nkrumah in the CPP should be without blemish and must come to the level of integrity that Dr. Nkrumah had,' he said.

Mr. Akwetey said he is not happy with the leadership and leadership-style of Dr. Nduom 'because his leadership falls below my expectation.

'The CPP is worse off now than before congress because of his leadership style.'

When the Times contacted Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, who was also accused of undermining the party’s flagbearer’s efforts, he declined to comment on the issue.

David Ampofo, spokesman of Dr. Nduom’s campaign team, on Tuesday, at a news conference, accused some leading members of the CPP of being behind 'the shameless and dangerous game of dragging the name of Dr. Nduom in the mud.'

He said: 'In recent times, members such as Lucy Ennin and F.A. Jantuah have publicly asked Dr. Nduom to clear his name on the SFO report, but I can tell you that it is a case of selfish politicians who failed to win important positions in the party that are behind them.'

Meanwhile, Kingsley E. Hope, has reported from Kumasi that the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the CPP has expressed confidence in Dr Nduom as the party’s flag-bearer.

'We still believe that Dr Nduom remains the best and capable personality within the Nkrumaists to push the CPP to the promised land, come December,' the regional secretariat said in a statement signed by the Regional Secretary, Akwasi Bosompem Boateng.

While Mr Frankline Adubobi Jantuah of Kumasi is demanding Dr Nduom’s immediate removal, Mr Phillip Kwofie of Takoradi has challenged him to go to court to clear his name.

'It is unfortunate that at this crucial moment when the signs of victory are boldly and clearly on the wall, some failed losers in the party who cannot forget their defeat in our congress are utilizing cheap means to keep the CPP tradition in permanent backwardness which will never succeed,' the statement said.

It affirmed its full and continuous support for Dr Nduom, saying, 'There is nothing to stop the flagbearer from contesting the December polls.'

The statement asked the party leadership to take disciplinary action against Mr Jantuah.

When contacted, Mr Jantuah said, 'I still stand by what I have said and I’ am prepared for any consequences.'

He said the contents of the statement of the Regional Secretariat was insulting, 'but it is one of the political hazards', stressing that Dr Nduom was not qualified to become a president of this country.

Reporting from Bolgatanga, A.A. Mbord said, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the party, Ramson Yinbil, in a similar show of support for Dr Nduom, described attempts being made to villify the party’s flagbearer as efforts in futility and without merit.

He was reported to have said in an interview with the Times that the hue and cry by some highly placed party members smacks of nothing less than selfishness.

'They are also attempts to rock the boat of the CPP which has been sailing smoothly to victory.'

Mr Yinbil expressed surprise that seemingly diabolical manouevres over the so-called 'Serious Fraud Office' debacle was emanating from a party giant such as Mr F.A. Jantuah who incidentally was a member of the party’s vetting committee that saw him through.

He said if the SFO had concrete and conclusive criminal findings against Dr Nduom, he would have by now been put before court to face criminal charges.

Mr Yinbil, therefore, wondered why after seven years no other person than members of his own party are raising the issue at this crucial period.