Politics of Saturday, 2 July 2011

Source: GNA

CPP will not break up after July Congress 96 Prof Delle

Bolgatanga, July 2, GNA - A leading member of the Convention People's Party (CPP), dismissed assertions in some political circles that the party could

Break up if certain candidates are not elected at the CPP National Delegates Congress this month.

Professor Edmund N. Delle, leader and aspiring National Chairman of the party, who refuted the claims, said on the contrary, the CPP would be more united, confident and stronger, and work with all stakeholders from the grass roots to the national level for greater impact in Election 2012.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, at Bolgatanga, after concluding his tour of the Volta, Eastern, Northern and Upper East Regions, Prof. Delle, noted: 93I think it will be suicidal for any member of the CPP to feel that because he did not win the election, he must let this euphoria die".

He said all the candidates were prepared to lend their support for whoever emerges winner in the election, to ensure the continuation of the reactivation of the party.

Prof. Delle said that Ghanaians, who have been yearning for change in the country's political leadership, would really have it this time around.

He said 93We have been in the wilderness for far too long and I do not think that we will allow this timely opportunity to pass by again.

This is an opportunity to strengthen ourselves, unite and to move as one body for victory.

"I believe that no convinced member of the CPP would want us to go back again to our divided ways. We believe that when CPP is well mobilised, we'll attract many sympathisers to the party".

Prof. Delle said his confidence that the CPP would emerge stronger after the congress was bolstered by the resilience of the foot soldiers and entire party membership as he interacted with them during the tour.

He reiterated that 93the party has been sitting on the political fringes for far too long. Our fortunes have been dwindling over the years and we cannot allow this to continue in Election 2012."

Prof Delle appealed to organizers of the regional conferences to adhere to the rules of engagement set by CPP national executive committee, stressing: 93We are all members of one big family and so there is no need for us to fight among ourselves. We should rather reserve our energies to fight the common enemy of disunity so that we can regain our past political glory".

He expressed the hope that just as the CPP had always set a good example for other political parties to follow, the congress would be another showcase.

Prof Delle gave the assurance that he would work assiduously with winners at the congress to strengthen the party structures at the regional and constituency levels.

He said his pre-occupation, as outlined in his ORS Blueprint, would be to overhaul and re-structure the CPP to ensure victory for the party in Election 2012.

According to the timetable for the regional congresses, the Eastern Region has elected its executive officers on Thursday, June 30, 2011 while the Northern Region elected its executives on Saturday, July 2, 2011; and the Upper East Region is expected to elect their officers on Sunday, July 3, 2011 and the Brong Ahafo Region on Saturday, July 9, 2011.

The rest are Upper West Region, Sunday, July 10, 2011, Western Region, Saturday, July 16, 2011, Central Region, Sunday, July 17, 2011, Volta Region, Tuesday, July 19, 2011, and Greater Accra Region, Thursday, July 21, 2011. The congress for the Ashanti Region has already taken place.

The election of the regional executive officers will pave the way for the party's national delegates' congress, scheduled to take place from Saturday, July 23, 2011 to Sunday, July 24, 2011, in Takoradi in the Western Region.