CPP pardons Nduom, others

Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - The Central Committee of the Convention People's Party (CPP) said on Wednesday that it has pardoned four party members who were investigated for their pronouncements in the media seen to undermine its credibility and fortunes. A press statement signed by Dr Nii Noi Dowuona, General Secretary, named the members as Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum, Minister of Energy, Professor George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a lecturer at the University of Ghana and Mr Kweku Baako Jnr, a journalist.

The statement said the Central Committee decided to caution and pardon the four men "in the spirit of comradeship to facilitate a common front for the December elections because public image of unity of purpose is crucial to the fortunes of the party". The Central Committee warned all its parliamentary candidates or party officials "to resist all temptations to create, for whatever reason, any dichotomy in the presidential and parliamentary campaign activity of the party".

"The presidential and parliamentary candidates must correlate their campaign activity in all constituencies contested by the party." The statement said there was a "dispassionate and exhaustive discussion" of the report of a disciplinary committee that investigated the pronouncements of the four in the media. It said the Central Committee took serious note of the respect, sobriety of conduct and a clear sense of responsible attitude of witnesses who appeared before the disciplinary committee. "The four comrades agreed that derogatory and uncomplimentary media utterances and public acrimony of one comrade against the other was very unhealthy and should be avoided."

The statement said there was an admission by all that the party's flagbearer must be appreciated and respected having been put there by Congress. "To see his position undermined by the individual uncomplimentary conduct and strategies amounts to a stab in the back." The statement said the Central Committee noted that there was complete calm in the media scene over the eruption of self-inflicted damping of party spirits and the creation of utter confusion and doubt-casting on the unity of the party has abated. "On the basis of the foregoing, and having regard to the circumstances as established in the report, the Central Committee upheld the major recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee that comradeship must be allowed to work and prevail and that no saws be hacked by sanctions to create wounds difficult to heal." The disciplinary committee comprised Mr K.S.P. Jantuah, Chairman/Convenor), Mr J.K.A. Tamakloe, Mr Riley Poku, Mrs Jane Chinebuah and Ms Ella Dove.