CPP Will Push Election To Round Two — Nduom

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, presidential candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP), says the party's expectation is to win substantial votes to push the elections to second round and be one of the two contenders in the second round.

“When you enter a competition you must respect your other competitors, that is why I am saying we will not get 50 per cent plus one vote in the first round, but we first want to get one of our legs there and then win the second round,” he added.

Dr Nduom said this when he interacted with some musicians in Accra and briefed them on his “Edwumawura Concept” and how they would fit in should he get elected as president of Ghana.

He noted that as one of the competitors in the electoral race, it behoved the CPP to respect other parties that had done well in the previous elections and not behave as if the other parties never existed.

He said over the years, some political opponents and sections of the media tagged the CPP as the party for the aged alone, and added that “we took these comments in good faith and embarked on a membership drive.”

Dr Nduom said within a few months after taking the castigation seriously, the CPP had been able to register more than 300,000 card-bearing members, mostly young people, who would work hard to ensure that the party chalked up victory.

Explaining his 'Edwumawura' concept, he said his was to ensure that Ghanaians with all sorts of professions and trades as well as those without any trade got a decent job that would earn them dignified salaries and living.

He said the concept was also to ensure that Ghanaian professionals and artisans as well as other groups got priority attention when the government of Ghana had to offer any job.

Dr Nduom said another aspect of the concept was that a CPP government would provide the enabling environment for Ghanaians with various trades to form associations, develop a code of conduct and certifications as well as performance standards for the members.

Dr Nduom said the CPP believed that musicians, especially Ghanaian musicians, artistes and actors when given the needed assistance would offer their best and export their services and products to earn foreign exchange for Ghana.

Mr Gyedu Blay Ambolley, leader of the musicians, expressed worry over the neglect of people in show business in the country to the extent that some of them die as paupers.

He said all politicians were using musicians and their songs to canvass for votes but they had never seen the need to state what they were intending to do for the industry to grow.

Story by Donald Ato Dapatem