Egos curtail efforts for a united Nkrumahist front – Bernard Mornah
The General Secretary of the People's National Convention, (PNC) Bernard Mornah has indicated his preparedness to work for a united Nkrumahist front.
There have been calls for the two main Nkrumahist parties, the Convention People's Party (CPP) and the People's National Convention (PNC) to merge to become a credible alternative to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In an interview with Xfm, an Accra based private commercial radio station; Mr Mornah described the calls for unity as apt and timely and pledged his support in working hard to achieve the objective. “If I were the only one in this enterprise, I would have assured you that, tomorrow you will see me with Ivor Greenstreet as General Secretaries of the PNC and CPP, join hands and moving on the streets of Ghana announcing to people the dawn of a new Nkrumahist front that will lead the people of Ghana out of our current want,” Mr Mornah said, revealing how passionate he feels about the two parties coming together as one.
So far the PNC and CPP have held separate meetings to declare their wish for unity, but very little is seen done in achieving it. Mr Mornah attributes the delay to individual egos, emotions and what he calls issues of trivialities.
He was quick however, to add that the merger will not be achieved on a silver platter. He said even though these are matters that come up in every negotiation, leaders of the two parties should be able to work out their differences and trivialities as both parties will need everybody involved. He added that “compromises must be made in order to carry on board all other interests.”
On the performance of the People's National Convention in general elections, Mr Mornah said the voting trend points to dwindling fortunes as the years go by. Using the Atiwa constituency as a case study, he said the party had 1.7 per cent of total votes cast in 2004 but the percentage has since tumbled to 0.35 during the last by-election, stressing that this “certainly will lead the party to oblivion if it continues.”
That again, he said, is the more reason why the party needs to unite.
This notwithstanding, Mr Mornah said as a member of the party, he will abide by whatever decision the party will reach even if it does not favour him. “As a member of the party, I am guided by its discipline. And so whatever decision the party takes, irrespective of my stance on the issue, I am bound by it. I'll only be devastated that we are unable to do what is appropriate,” Mr Mornah said.