CPP MUST DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY – SAMIA

The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) was founded 62 years ago by courageous men and women of our country and led by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to deliver our dear Motherland from centuries of foreign domination.

At its peak in the late 1950's and early 1960's the CPP had over 1 million card-bearing members. However, since the return to constitutional rule in 1992, Nkrumaist as a political force has not only achieved less than 12 per cent of the total vote cast in national elections but more importantly, the political fortunes of Nkrumaist have taken a consistent decline from 11.4 per cent in 1992 to 1.9 per cent in 2008.

One may ask why has the political fortunes of the once vibrant CPP declined over the last 20 years? There is a saying that “If you do the same things several times and get the same poor results, then common sense suggests that you try something different next time.” The reality of the persistent decline in our political fortunes demands a radically different approach to party organisation and mobilisation.

It is against this background that I have put myself forward as a contestant for the position of the Chairperson of the CPP. My objective is to lead the Party's effort at transforming itself from polling station to constituency level and all the way to the national level with an approach anchored on:

1) Reconnecting the Party with our grassroots;
2) Realizing accountable and transparent leadership;

3) Clarifying our message of hope and transformation of our Nation;

4) Ensuring unity amongst the Nkrumaist Family and articulating our alternative national economic transformation agenda based on people-centred development.

Desperate situations call for desperate measures. So each and every one of us has to work extra hard, hence my decision to combine two functions of being an MP and Party Chair at the same time. I will, therefore, urge all CPP members to work collectively to put the CPP at its rightful place in our contemporary politics.

My efforts together with others at renewing our great Party will be further enhanced by combining Parliamentary work as MP for Jomoro with my new vision as Chairperson of the CPP.

The Jomoro constituency can only benefit from a stronger CPP at the centre, and a stronger CPP will also help other aspiring MPs.

My success in Jomoro shows that I am experienced in delivering votes and connecting with our people, which is what we need most at this point at the national level. So there is a link between sound, transparent and credible CPP leadership and a more dynamic presence in the constituencies.

Over the last two years, I have been catapulted into a leadership position by virtue of being the only CPP MP. The demands on my time and attention in the service of our Party are already great. Therefore I am fully engaged with our political project and have no other preoccupation. My singular objective is the revival of our tradition.

In choosing to return to Ghana to engage in Ghanaian politics at the grassroots level, I was making a commitment to contribute to improving the welfare of my countrymen and women.

But this commitment should not be misinterpreted as laying claim to a political inheritance. On the contrary all I am claiming is the right to struggle to contribute to regenerating our tradition and to take the legacy to a qualitatively higher level.

It has become clear to me in the course of my work that I am not recognized simply in my personal capacity but as a representative of the Nkrumaist political tradition. I am proud of this re-affirmation of our enduring vision for our national economic independence.

Our Party has a solid tradition of self-reliance, self-mobilization and integrated national development planning within which for example, education is linked to our industrialization and the transformation of our economy.

We need a strong and vibrant CPP to provide alternative policy direction. Over the last two decades, while the country achieved an average economic growth rate of about 5 per cent per annum, this growth rate has not translated into a higher standard of living for the average Ghanaian. For example, recent studies suggest increasing income inequality and poverty, nearly a third (30 per cent) of Ghanaians are below the poverty line.

The CPP believes that the 21st Century Ghanaian State has to be both developmental and democratic. A developmental and democratic state must make the welfare of her citizens its main goal. In the foreword to the Seven Year Development Plan (1963-1970) Kwame Nkrumah said:

“Our aim is to establish in Ghana a strong and progressive society in which no one will have any anxiety about basic means of life, about work, food and shelter; where poverty and illiteracy no longer exist and disease is brought under control; and where our educational facilities provide all the children of Ghana the best possible opportunities for the development of their potentialities.”

Our Party will strive to return the country to its long-term planning and its belief in the youth of our country. Development does not just happen by itself; it has to be planned. Soon after our Congress and under my leadership, the CPP will begin working on an alternative comprehensive long-term development plan, which we will present to the people of Ghana.

The first step on this journey to reclaim our core values begins on 23 and 24 July when we usher in a new generation of leadership.

Let us put our heads and shoulders together for the task ahead of rebuilding our great party, CPP.

Forward with the people.
Samia Nkrumah