General News of Saturday, 4 February 2012

Source: GNA

Samia Nkrumah champions Nkrumaist unity

Sunyani, Feb. 5, GNA – Ms Samia Nkrumah, National Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), at the weekend stated the party’s readiness to commence unity talks again with the People’s National Convention (PNC).

This, she said, aimed at building a unified Nkrumaist force to unseat the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December General Election.

She therefore urged the leadership of the PNC to reconsider coming back to the negotiation table after its national congress to restart sincere talks to unify the two parties.

Delivering a solidarity message on behalf of the CPP at the National Delegates’ Congress of the PNC in Sunyani, Ms Nkrumah stressed the need for the two parties to forge a united front to capture power.

She said the two parties share the ideology of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, adding; “we have a common destiny to transform Ghana”.

The congress of the PNC is on the theme: “A United PNC for Victory in 2012.”

Ms Nkrumah paid tribute to members and the leadership of both parties for ensuring and sustaining the ideology and tradition of Dr Nkrumah, which she said had “survived the test of time”.

“Just last week, I was in Ethiopia to unveil the statue of our great father and founder Dr Kwame Nkrumah and this is a confirmation that (political) emancipation is still essential and possible today,” she said.

Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, National Chairman of the PNC urged the party members not to be swayed by the internal wrangling and rather continue with their enthusiasm that had seen them through.

Mr Tseny S. Karim, Chairman of the Congress Committee, asked the delegates to vote for competent and hard working leaders who could propel and project the country’s development.

Giving an overview of PNC activities from 2007, Mr Bernard Mornah, General Secretary, noted the party had gone through a chequered history but stressed that with the persistence, support and commitment of members most of the challenges had been surmounted.

He said the party was given poor coverage by the media during previous elections and expressed the hope that the trend would change “this time around”.

He said the leadership of the party had strengthened relations with the branches in the United Kingdom, US and the Ireland.

The congress recommended the summary dismissal of personalities like Dr Somtim Tobiga and Mr Bernard Bame-Ime from the party.

Dr Sule Gariba, member of the party, who presided over the function said Dr Tobiga and Mr Bame-Ime and their agents and associates “have consistently defied the collective decisions of the party, disregarded the internal organs, refused to submit to arbitration and ignored several decisions of the law courts of Ghana”.

“The two have consistently perpetrated activities that have brought the party into disrepute including seizing, by force, the party headquarters, locking out the party’s legitimate officers and staff, unlawfully installing an interim management committee, actions unwarranted and unrecognised by the Constitution of the PNC,” he said.

Positions in the party being contested for at the congress are the presidential candidate, national chairman, general secretary, youth organiser, women organiser, national organiser and national treasurer.

At the fore court of the auditorium of the Sunyani Polytechnic traders have taken the opportunity to sell party paraphernalia and posters of the candidates. The posters can also be seen in every open space in the town.