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18.05.2011 News

NO MERGER WITHOUT TRUST

18.05.2011 LISTEN
By Paa Kofi Asamoah

Following a publication in the “Enquirer” newspaper of Monday, 16th May 2011 about the merger of the Nkrumaist parties, we would like to state that there cannot be any merger without trust. Considering the pronouncements made consistently by members of the National Executive of the PNC over the years, we do not believe that the PNC could be a trusted party for a merger. It is now time for those who want to build a true, independent party to decide on one common vehicle, the CPP, overhaul it and make it attractive enough for all to be a part of.

Before his unfortunate death in 1998, former President Hilla Limann signed an agreement together with the late Hon, Kojo Botsio to unite the political parties that claim to be Nkrumaists. That agreement signed at the Arts Center in Accra was agreed by all parties to be “irrevocable”. So what part of irrevocable has escaped the attention of those who have hijacked the Limann heritage to cause confusion? With that agreement, Prof. Nii Noi Dowuona, Felix Amoah, Chris Zigah and many, many others joined the CPP from the PNC. But others hijacked the PNC and have used it as a bargaining chip for personal gain. It has now become obvious after several attempts made by well-meaning leaders including the family of the late President Limann that the present national executives of the PNC do not want their party to unite with the CPP.

Now we know that all along, the national executives of the PNC and their leader have pursued their own personal agenda and only used former President Limann as a means to further their own personal goals.

Indeed, President Limann himself reached agreement with Candidate Adu-Boahen prior to the 1992 elections to support each other in case the election went to a second round. The PNC supported the NPP in the 2000 election. Dr. Edward Mahama was the first to reach agreement to support the NPP and Moses Dani Baah became a Deputy Minister. In the 2008 elections, the PNC supported the NDC in the second round, while the CPP chose to be independent. The PNC were rewarded with Ministerial appointments with the NDC. So what is the General Secretary of the PNC Bernard Mornah reportedly talking about? How can he say that “… the CPP lacks ideological clarity”?

It is evident that the national executives of the PNC are unwilling to relinquish their positions to pave the way for the proposed merger. In the said publication, Mr. Bernard Monah, blames the CPP for stalling the merger process. But, it would be recalled that, it was the PNC that went into an alliance with the ruling NDC and took positions in the government after the 2008 general elections whilst other members of the PNC made individual arrangements for favours from the ruling government.

We wish to state that, the rank and file of the PNC membership is for the merger of the two parties. This is quite evident in the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Western, Central and Brong Ahafo Regions. It is rather the selfish interest of the party's national executives that is stalling the process.

Prior to the 2008 elections, there was written correspondence between the PNC and the CPP which led to a proposal for the unification of the two parties. An electoral college made up of the national executives of the two parties was put in place for the election of a flag bearer for the joint parties.

When Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, the CPP candidate emerged as the winner of the process, the PNC National Chairman, Alhaji Ramadan, Dr. Mahama and others undermined the whole process. Dr. Mahama who had insisted during negotiations that he had the mandate of his party to enter into agreement with the CPP suddenly held the position that the PNC's executives needed the mandate of their National Executive Council to endorse what had been done.

We wish to make it clear that this betrayal of trust will not be countenanced again. Those who do not want a merger should not waste our time and credibility. Let's face reality. It is clear that no unity or alliance of Nkrumaist parties including the PNC will take place in 2011 or 2012. Certainly not while the hypocritical PNC national executives are in office.

Our advice is for the CPP to seek unity with like-minded rank and file members of the PNC to fight the 2012 elections and leave the leaders at the center to pursue their selfish individual ambitions. To Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, Hon. Samia Nkrumah and others who have championed the unity agenda, we say concentrate on bringing together the rank and file, grassroots and the youth and forget the Accra politicians!

There is victory for us!!
Signed
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Paa Kofi Asamoah
Nat. Org.

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