The Convention People's Party (CPP) is expected to bag C600 million from the six candidates who have so far picked their filing forms to contest the flagbearership of the party. Bright Akwetey, legal practitioner and Dr. Kwaku Osafo, a renowned former World Bank official and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon are the latest to join Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, a former Minister for Public Sector Reforms and Member of Parliament for Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem; Dr. Fred Asante Akuffo, a Tema-based medical doctor; George Aggudey, the CPP?s flagbearer in the last elections and Prof. Agyemang Badu Akosah, a renowned pathologist.

The candidates are expected to pay C100 million each while those vying for the posts of National Chairman, Vice- Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer and other posts are to pay C50 million, C30 million, C20 million and C10 million respectively.

Dr. Akuffo at an earlier press briefing, at the International Press Centre in Accra, said even though his announcement might have come a shade late, the decision was divinely induced, and aimed at turning the nation around for the better.

Sounding very religious, he said: ?I am here on a very strong impulse. Like Jonah, Esther, Joshua and Gideon, I am reluctantly but faithfully accepting to perform that mission to come, so that together we shall erect the foundation pillars that will support our welfare and the welfare of our children and all future generations.? The aspirant, who claims to have designed the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Educational Reform Programme, said it would take a man with divine vision to transform the country.

Mr. Akwetey yesterday demonstrated in practical terms his intention to contest the flagbearership of the Convention People?s Party (CPP) by picking his filing form at the party?s headquarters in Accra.

Also at the venue to pick his form was Dr. Kwaku Osafo. As if by design, the two men, who are members of the Patriots, a pressure group that has introduced a lot of dynamism into the CPP, arrived at the Asylum Down headquarters of the party to jointly pick their forms.

Some of the supporters of Mr. Akwetey and Dr. Osafo, dressed in their candidates? embossed T?shirts, danced ?Kpanlogo? while others played brass band music. After they had announced their intentions, the General Secretary of CPP, Prof. Nii Noi Dowuona took them through the ?Rules of conduct for campaign.?

According to the rules, a platform would be created for each aspirant to interact with party members, and that aspirant and his or her campaign team must not obstruct, disrupt or cause to be broken up, meetings and campaign activities of other aspirants or promote any act of indiscipline.

?An aspirant and his or her campaign team must not destroy, remove, deface or tamper with the paraphernalia and campaign materials of other aspirants.? Mr. Akwetey declared that he would pursue law, order and national security when given the nod to lead the party. He said he has been tried and tested as a lawyer, sports administrator and champion of social justice for all, and is therefore qualified to be the leader of the party.

Mr. Akwetey said he hoped the delegates would consider him as the best among the candidates and vote for him to lead the party. He said the decision to file together with Dr. Osafo was to demonstrate their common sense of purpose, unity and the quest to work together for the common good of the party.

?We want to demonstrate to others in and outside the party that we are more than united, and with this spirit, the CPP will move forward,? Mr. Akwetey assured.

For his part, Dr. Osafo said the CPP was ready to take the mantle of leadership for the economic development of the country. He said the party needed a man who could champion the aspirations and ideologies of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the founder of the CPP and Ghana?s first president.

Dr. Osafo described himself as a confident, self-inspired and loyal member of the party who stood tall among his colleague flagbearers.

Also at the office to file for positions in the party were Dr. Abu Sakara and Naa Kordai Assimeh, who are both vying for the Vice-Chairmanship, while Yoofi Thompson and Kofi Dedey are campaigning for National Organiser and General Secretary respectively.