Tears For CPP

Dr Kwasi Nduom and Samia Nkrumah

The Convention People's Party (CPP) continues to wallow in the doldrums, struggling to find its feet in local politics, a situation which could have been obviated but for the selfish manouvres of an individual.

This is not a party which should go through such self-inflicted injuries, having survived earlier attempts at obliterating it completely from the map of political parties in the country by a notorious junta.

Samia Nkrumah, chairman of the party, has already thrown her hands into the air in frustration at the developments which threaten to push the party beyond the backburners. That should not be if we must protect the spirit of multiplicity of parties in our democracy.

Although her description of Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom's political conduct as nonsensical was rather harsh, when she addressed the immediate challenges posed by the ambition of that individual, it was an expression of her frustration at the continuing self-inflicted drawbacks on the fortunes of the party.

Although funding plays an important role in the running of political groupings, money is not the whole issue.

We are in agreement with Samia Nkrumah's efforts at bringing back sanity in the party, a virtue which had eluded the grouping for a long time. As a Chairman with a sense of purpose, commitment and focus, her frustration is understandable even if it is underpinned by a simmering uncontrollable anger.

The ego trips of one person should not over-ride the overall interest of a political party with the stature of the CPP, that is the issue and this must be addressed by someone.

Sincerity and integrity should be the watchwords of the efforts at rebuilding the CPP adequately for it to continue contributing its quota towards the sustenance of democracy in the country.

The journey has been a long one and for those with stakes in the party to show indifference in what is going on is tantamount to shirking their political responsibility towards a party that they belong to. That is why we have not closed our eyes to the unfortunate developments in the party, especially against the backdrop of the efforts of Samia Nkrumah.

Following the media attention to Samia's outburst yesterday, one man, while defending Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom on air, made some interesting yet mind-boggling remarks.

He commended the NPP and NDC for, as he put it, being bigger than individuals within their folds, unlike the CPP. Dr. Nduom towers over the CPP, single-handedly supporting parliamentary candidates in the last elections. While we commend such act of political generosity, we would demand that it be supported with lavish sense of humility.