CPP NDUOM CALLS FOR A DEBATE ON IDEAS FOR A BETTER GHANA - AKUFFO-ADDO (NPP) AND DR. MILLS (NDC) ARE SILENT.

The saying goes that; “to KNOW and not to DO is indeed not to KNOW” Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo the flag bearer of the NPP just finished as winner of a congress without debating the opponents so that the NPP could see which candidate was best suited to lead their party.

The man with the deepest pocket maybe won the day in that contest. Congratulations Nana Akufo-Ado! I wish you well as NPP flag bearer, I must also say that an NPP that is strong with ideas and not corrupt is a credit to Ghana whether they are in government or if they should find themselves in opposition next time.

Dr Mills and the NDC as well as the CPP have all come out of similar congresses so Ghanaians in reality do not know what these candidates leading their parties are or stand for until they are properly scrutinised or have presented themselves to be scrutinised by the people. Here we go folks! Dr. Nduom, flag bearer of the CPP has challenged these two parties to a duel and it’s been long since that challenge came out. Ghanaians have not heard a word yet from these candidates and we are waiting, because we have time to wait. If they indeed know how to run Ghana, let them show us how through televised debates so we can make up our minds.

Ghanaians have the right to know who they are to vote for and what the candidates stand for. They have to know these just in time for them to be able to make up their minds about who best can serve their numerous interests. The candidates must present themselves freely for a debate or the electoral commission should force them to begin with one. Either way, Ghanaians are waiting and we thank Dr. Nduom for calling the first short.

When Nana Ado was confronted recently with allegations of drug use, he commented that he wanted a debate on ideas not on accusations. A debate on ideas also entails a debate on character and we want it to start now. Nana will have the opportunity to clear himself of all allegations and stand tall among his competitors. The same goes with Dr. Nduom and Professor Mills. The presidential candidate for the People's National Congress (PNC) is calling for a probe into the finances of former ministers in President John Kufuor's government who vied for the ruling party's presidential nomination. Edward Mahama questions how it came about that 16 former ministers came up with a non-refundable amount of 250 million cedi ($US25 000,00) as nomination fees for their party's ticket, ahead of this year's general elections and Nana Ado must answer Ghanaians on behalf of his party.

There are too many armed robberies in Ghana today, too many drug trafficking, too much bribery and Ghanaians are still poor, without jobs, without good sanitation, cities choked with pollution and Ghanaians are dying in their hospital beds for simple illnesses.

There are many questions unanswered and Ghanaians must team up or join hands in demanding answers through instituting a debate among the party leaders as soon as possible. Our interest is not served if we allow politicians to use money to buy votes from our hungry folks. The media must in this regard aim at being responsible by leading the way in probing the politicians for specifics and concrete examples of the tangible things they intend to do to solve the problems if voted in as the people’s choice. Dr. Nduom has said;

“I believe that we Ghanaians CAN continuously create wealth to improve the worth and welfare of our people. We CAN together, seek to build a society of disciplined individuals with a passion for excellence. We can raise the average income of its citizens to $10,000 in our lifetime. This will happen if we focus on doing things differently. Our success will also be predicated on doing different things than we have done in the past. Our immediate focus should be to ensure that all our people have access to the basic necessities of life.

This vision of his is laudable and if seriously meant then every Ghanaian must be made to hear just how he plans to realise the dream. And then let us listen to alternative aspirants, and let us chose among them that which suits our interests and aspirations best.

I personally think that the NPP with an eye on money and Big business cannot best serve the interest of Ghanaians currently why. Or I may be wrong, but not until the politicians have debated and we being made aware of the various positions and standpoints, I maintain I might be right.

Nana Akufo-Addo addressing a gathering at Akpafu Todzi in the Volta region of Ghana declared to the rural folks that he will bring about technological development to Ghanaians if elected. What did he actually mean by that? He knows that the road to Akpafu has not been tarred for many years now, and he knows that driving on Hohoe roads is no fun at the same time as he knows that the road to his own hometown in Akim is asphalted under the NPP government. So what did he really mean by those statements to the people of Hohoe and Akpafu? We need to have answers and we will not allow ourselves to be swerved by political promises which hold no water. We want a debate! Nana Ado’s record as a justice minister and attorney general as well as his record as foreign minister must be scrutinised as against Dr. Nduom`s record as minister in the same government and then other personal characteristics will be looked at. We want to look at the NPPs conservative capitalistic thinking as against the CPPs Welfare and social democratic ideology and see which of them is best suited for Ghana’s needs today.

The CPP project is a long term shot aiming to bring political responsibility to Ghanaians and government to every citizen’s doorstep. Ours is to make it possible for the people in Akpafu and Hohoe for instance to have access to funds, grants and bank loans thereby decide on creating jobs, providing health care, bettering infrastructure and deciding which development needs to prioritise, not rely solely on promises from an individual politician. It is the peoples right to have access to funds aimed at bettering their common lot. Ghana’s newfound wealth in Oil calls for a dedicated and tested leadership, which will only come through rigorous scrutiny and debates. We will be doing ourselves and our children a disservice if we skip this one because of partisanship. Secondly, a situation where one party wins and decides or takes all is and cannot be in Ghana’s best interest! We are hoping for a situation where parties need a coalition to be able to make decisions and rule. This will promote an atmosphere of cooperation and reliance on one another, which also begets humility and service.

The distribution policies and the welfare of the downtrodden must be uplifted and highlighted in this years political debates following on to Dr. Nkrumah’s dream for a better Ghana. There are important issues to be debated before the polling stations open and any silence on the part of the two contestants will be dubbed; INDEED NOT TO KNOW about how to run Ghana!Forward Ever! Long Live Ghana-Nkrumah never Dies!

Festus Kwadwo Lartey-Adjei (Labour consultant and executive member of the CPP Scandinavia Chapter