Kumasi, June 14, GNA - A member of the National Executive Committee of Convention People's Party (CPP), Mr F.A. Jantuah has called for the immediate removal of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom as the Party's Flag Bearer to enable him to seek clearance in court on the outcome of the investigation conducted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on his activities at the State Enterprises Commission (SEC).

In a statement issued in Kumasi in reaction to a media report, which sought to suggests that the CPP had no intention to contest the SFO Report on Nduom, Mr Jantuah said it was important that the Party asked Dr Nduom to clear his name first.

According to him, the SFO had indicated in its comment to the Appointment Committee of Parliament in February 2001 during a vetting of Dr Nduom for ministerial position that, its investigation into the SEC case "can still be said to be pending, the findings notwithstanding" and it was necessary to clarify the role Dr Nduom played in the findings of the SFO Report.

Mr Jantuah explained that the Report as it stood, was so relevant to Dr Nduom's relative position of being the Flag Bearer of the CPP and it was important for the Party to ask him to relinquish the position and to seek clearance in court. He said since criminal law did not recognize "limitation" in the commission of crime, it did not matter whether the SFO Report involving Dr Nduom was twelve years.

"Whether Dr Nduom is involved or not, the Party should take steps to remove him from the position of the Flag Bearer of the CPP in order to avoid Dr Nduom being brought before court to discredit the Party in the eyes of the electorate of Ghana at the last moment," he stated. Mr Jantuah, who is also the Ashanti Regional Education Secretary of the Party, said it was the duty of the Elders of the Party to take steps to see that Dr Nduom was removed in view of the content of the SFO Report as submitted to the Parliamentary Appointment Committee, so as to enable the Party to organise a snap congress to elect a new Flag Bearer. He explained that it was not the responsibility of the CPP to submit the case to court for clearance or otherwise but it was the duty of the Party to ask Dr Nduom to clear his name.