There was a heated debate among members of the National Reform Party (NRP) at the weekend over the party?s decision to merge with the Convention People?s Party (CPP) and other Nkrumahist parties. The members who gathered in Sunyani during the party?s national congress were divided into two ? one faction opposed to the merger and the other group supported it.

But after some bitter disagreements, members agreed that the NRP should merge with the CPP, GCPP and PNC into a formidable entity with the suggested name New Convention People?s Party.

Some of the NRP members held the view that the merger would spell the party?s doom as its name would be overshadowed apart from resulting in a problem when it comes to the choice of a flagbearer. ''If Goosie Tandoh is chosen as flagbearer, there will be no problem due to the fact that his father was a UP man'', one of them quipped.

They said the CPP had always been fragmented since the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah and with the trend likely to continue, there would be no future for the NRP. However, others upheld the decision for a merger and said it was the best the executives had planned to do.

Contrary to the belief that the name of the party would be lost, they indicated that the party?s logo would forever be maintained. The national congress was the first meeting of the party?s highest decision making body since August 2000.