GCPP Shares Success Stories@18
Eighteen years ago today, 18th June 1996 The late Dan Lartey led the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP ) to receive final certificate from the electoral commission to operate as a registered political party.
The party has red, white and gold as its colors with a red cuckoo on a gold background seated on GCPP as its symbol.
We are here this morning to celebrate 18-years of hard work for the good of Ghana democracy.
GCPP seeks to pursue an economic policy to free the Ghanaian economy from alien control and domination .It is important to create an economy that is not import dependant but rather a domestic production one that feed our people, manufacturers and industries with the view to export the surplus to generate revenue for development.
The Great Consolidated Popular Party is guided in its constitutional framework and its policy basis by the following principles:
Building multi-national coalitions of people who share these beliefs and who reflect the regional, cultural and socio-economic diversity of Africa, while maintaining the utmost respect and dignity towards those Africans of different political orientations;
Developing this coalition, embracing our differences and respecting our traditions, yet honoring the concept of pan-Africanism as the greatest of our collective strengths in this modern era.
Remembering both the positive and tragic elements in the history of our people, from our great ancient civilizations to the base slave trade, and from exploitative and oppressive colonialism to this current era of neo-colonialism.
Respecting the entitlement of Diasporic Africans to their presence on-and-off the continent, with a view that the future of Africans on-and-off the continent are invariably intertwined.
Heeding to our peoples' burning desire for economic independence and well-being, full employment, security, health, shelter, education and the pursuit of happiness in a free, peaceful and just society
G.C.P.P. will at all times operate in a manner accountable and responsive to its members and the nation.
Believing in the equality of all Africans and thereby determined to create a new socio- economic order that guarantees equal opportunity for all, ensuring the welfare of our entire people irrespective of gender, religion, and social or ethnic status.
Embracing the freedom of the individual, including freedom of speech, worship and assembly.
Creating a balance between fiscal accountability, progressive social policy and individual rights and responsibilities combined with a belief in the presence of responsible governments as the best expression of the diversity of our countries, provinces and territories.
Unconditionally resolved to protect and enhance the rights of all citizens -man, woman, and child, and ensure transparency at all levels of public administration allowing for all groups to participate in and be represented by the decision making processes.
Knowing that the well-being of the environment is a vital part of our heritage to be protected by each generation for the next, and that any exploitation of the environment must be extremely tempered particularly when being used in application to our economic and material well-being.
Maintaining that the best guarantors of economic prosperity and well-being for the People of Africa are responsible governments and an economy based on the meaningful partnership between the public and private sector, including collective ownership of land and corporate entities where appropriate.
In eighteen years of GCPP's existence it has contributed in no small measure to enhance and sustain our democracy.
The GCPP was selected as part of a four member committee that played a responsible role in rewritting the code of conduct of political parties in the year 2000.
GCPP played a leading role in the amendment of PNDC Law 284 Political Parties law into an act of Parliament Act 574 and since then taken part re-writing other code of conduct of political parties by IEA.
The GCPP also signed the Kumasi Declaration for Peace before ,during and after the General Elections of 7th December, 2012.
Late Dan Lartey was very vocal on the blotted electoral roll and supported the idea of enriching electoral process through bio-metric registration although he did not live to see it.
The GCPP had shaped the political will of our people through the media thereby promoting peace in our body politics.
The party had contested general elections in 2000, with the grand coalition (PNC,GCPP and Egle Parties)2004 and 2012 general elections.
During 2000 Presidential debate, the party's first Presidential candidate Late Dan Lartey delivered the Domestication concept 'Eat what you grow,Grow what you eat' to the people of Ghana which was enthuastically received while some who did not understand the concept at the initial stage laughed their hearts out.
Today we have all realised that still the best policy for Ghana and Africa is domestication.
The GCPP is exceptionally happy that President John Dramani Mahama has joined the crusade to promote made in Ghana goods to grow our economy for the betterment of our people.
GCPP understands that the cultural traditions of Ghana's past must also play a crucial role in the modern Ghana of the future. We desire civic engagement and strong networks between our communities to create opportunities for success that will help move Ghana forward.
SECOND CHAMBER
The DOMESTICATION Policy proposes the establishment of two Chambers within the Legislature. The second Chamber will be an independent body that complements the works of the House of Parliament, and acts as a mechanism of checks and balances to the decisions and actions of Government.
Members will include the following:
a)Chiefs b) Eminent personalities, statesmen and retired technocrats.
These groups constitute an important component of our political history and culture, and their knowledge should reflect an important part of our constitution and democracy. The second chamber ultimately represents the diversity of the people of Ghana and our traditions.
LIFT BAN ON POLITICS ON CHIEFS
In this respect, the ban of chiefs from participating in politics should be lifted by repealing the appropriate clauses in the constitution.
The GCPP can confidently inform you that we have opened offices in all ten regions of Ghana and some districts.
Currently the GCPP is to enhance its structures and expand its offices across the country.
I thank all the party regional executives and constituencies executives who worked very hard in the 2012 elections which enabled us to be 4th on the ballot that makes this celebration worthwhile.