General News of Monday, 19 December 2011

Source: x fm 95.1

CPP not bothered even if Dr Ndoum should go independent

The Convention People¹s Party seems to be unperturbed with reports that its 2008 flagbearer, Dr Papa Kwesi Ndoum might go independent in 2012.

The party¹s Communications Director, Nii Armah Akomfrah has told Xfm 95.1 ³Dr Papa Kwesi Ndoum¹s people sending signals to the public that he might contest as an independent candidate is enough prove that he is not fully committed to the party that he seeks to lead.

Head of Dr Ndoum¹s Communications team, Richmond Keelson, had earlier hinted that Dr Ndoum will contest the 2012 elections irrespective of whether he is chosen as CPP presidential candidate or not.

Nii Armah who sounded not bothered indicated that until Dr Ndoum lives the CPP, ³he is entitled to seek to campaign within the broad guidelines of the party."

He however added that, ³anybody in this country is entitled to follow his constitutional rights to serve this country in their capacity the same way they want to serve their party."

Speaking in an interview on the Big Bite morning show, Mr Armah opined that, ³if members of his (Dr Ndoum¹s) team seek to go out there and begin to talk about the party, perhaps, as a weakened vehicle among others, it begins to send a message to CPP members as to whether he is the right person to lead the party or not², saying, ³he cannot lead the party and at the same time want to rundown or paste a negative image about that same party²

He said that the CPP is a very strong brand and a party of independence of which every home virtually has an affiliation to and every heart wishes well for the CPP to become the third force in the country

He added that, the CPP is a ³brand that is playing an active role in Ghana¹s democracy², adding, ³we might have never won elections recently but we are still a strong, active member in seeking to develop and grow Ghana¹s democracy."

He added that the central committee and the council of elders of the party have since been steering the affairs of the party towards the general elections in 2012 and pledged the party's readiness to compete with the other political parties for the Presidential slot.

Nii Armah Akomfrah encouraged every CPP member to cooperate with the executives of the party since nominations would be opened on the 4th of January to elect their Presidential candidate.

Story by Dennis Nii Lantey Lawson/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana