Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Kweku Baako has stated that he voted for the NPP Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2016 polls. He revealed this at the annual Kronti ne Akwamu lectures organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana.
Kweku Baako admitted that his obligation to the party (CPP) of which he is a member, does not include voting for a presidential candidate. He maintained that he has “difficulties” with the party’s leadership style as far as policies and decisions are concerned and would therefore, rather vote for another party’s Presidential candidate as against his; since the NDC is not an option for him seeing his reservations about the party, he decided to opt for the other, the NPP, he explained.
“I’m a member of the CPP, but I have difficulties with party policies and decisions. The Presidential unfortunately I’ve told the CPP I can’t follow them, they don’t agree so I vote NPP because the other alternative is the NDC and I can’t so I vote NPP, that’s the truth”, he stated.
Mr. Baako indicated explained that his allegiance is to ensuring that the CPP secures a reasonable number of constituencies across all 10 regions and not to promoting the Presidential ambitions of the party.
He believes the party has a greater chance of winning parliamentary seats to gain some presence in parliament and hence have a voice as far as legislative activities are concerned and would rather focus on that rather than combine both.
“I prefer to focus on growing the party through parliament, rather than boxing the two together; presidential and parliamentary with our limited resources. In a multi-party democracy, if you have even 10 members, you have a voice, and I was saying this and I was in the tiny minority…I was one time dragged to the disciplinary committee, so I took a back seat”, he said.
He touted his feats in mobilizing logistics and funding for CPP constituencies in the country.
“I mobilized logistics and funding for CPP constituencies. I adopted about 20 to 30 and I do that, the evidence is available. This time I printed t-shirts and posters for select constituencies where I think we have the potential in order to gain some parliamentary presence”.
Abdul Malik kweku Baako is the biological son of CPP stalwart, Kofi Baako. His father Kofi Baako among other roles he played in the Convention People’s Party was also as Minister for various other Ministries throughout the reign of the party.