“We shall measure our progress by the improvement in the health of our people; by the number of children in school, and electricity in our towns and villages and by the happiness which our people take in being able to manage their own affairs. The welfare of our people is our chief pride, and it is by this that my Government will ask to be judged.” Broadcast to nation, 24th Dec. 1957 By Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

The Washington post also reports 06.Nov 2008, that people around the globe think Obama`s victory connects directly to them and makes America come closer to their hearts. This is no mean statement, but a true history in the making through Obama, that exults the good in humankind and brings forth a noble quality of man to reach out and to think, act and react in the interest of the commonwealth and in fellowship with people of all walks; White, Black, Hispanic, Indian, poor, rich, child, old, sick, strong, standing and down; That the welfare of the self and ego must give way to an outreach for the common good and altruism in our time.

Obama`s message of hope resonates in societies around the world where social disparities and inequalities have dashed a peoples hope for a better tomorrow, where the HAVES in society are clamoring for more and continue to determine who gets what, how and when.

In an attempt to bail out Wall Street from the financial crises Obama was quick to point out the need to include a bail-out plan for Main Street “common man in the street”, a display of the altruistic spirit. It is no secret that the Republican Party has always been the party for the rich and well connected who felt the status quo threatened when Obama preached equality and outreach instead of class and division. He won every debate against McCain the republican but was called inexperienced, reactionary, and socialist, or you may say the apprentice.

In Ghana the NPP with the emblem of the elephant and same ideals and mindsets similar to the Republicans in America; rich first and then, trickle-down-effect have invited to Ghana and hailed President Bush as a hero, and even named a street after him. This president is the most unpopular in our time and maybe in American history. He has caused many wars and sufferings in this world through his unilateralist approach to issues. He has alienated America and brought its economy into a virtual ditch! Don’t forget the Republican Party has the elephant as its emblem too and when the elephant is made to dance too long on the grass in the bush, the food for the other common animals in the bush gets naturally destroyed.

History teaches us that power corrupts, and so it is also emphasized that absolute power corrupts absolutely; that we should not entrust politicians to stay too long unto power. Ghana made a mistake by allowing the P (NDC) to stay in power for 19 years. Our economy was in shambles, unemployment widespread and civil liberties limited, so when it was time to let them go Ghana decided boldly to let in the NPP although they had also in the past betrayed this country by working with the CIA to overthrow its government.

The NPP has served eight years and we know what we have got; a presidential palace whiles Ghanaians live in kiosks; two presidential jets whiles our youth sell ice water and dog chains for a living. You know the rest, and NPP slogan of “We are moving forward” makes one asks himself; in which direction; in dirt and filth, with corruption and crime or with unemployment and homelessness? Our young men have becoming akpeteshie drinkers, wee smokers and drug users. Some have even turned to walking to Europe through the Sahara to find answers! Armed robbers and cocaine dealers are active and emboldened and quick buck mentality has never so much bedeviled our nation, are we moving forward? The NPP this year on the campaign trail has warned severally that unless any area votes for them they will not see development for their areas. Our cities are fast becoming ghettos where kiosks for ice-water sellers become sleeping rooms at night for the same, their friends and relatives. Both the NPP and NDC have hypocritically come out to hail Obama`s victory and to align themselves with his ideals. But take a good look and you will find out that they are merely putting up a blind screen across to prevent the wind of change from spreading towards our part of world and democracy. Ghanaians have no jobs and the CPP candidate Dr. Nduom has proved that he is the man with a clear direction for the country through the presidential debates whiles like Obama, some are calling him the apprentice. He is the only candidate making job creation a major campaign theme, so that tells you the story.

When Kwame Nkrumah took over the reins of government, he indicated boldly that, in a situation where poverty, disease and ignorance confronted our people, no leader could be expected to have patience. So he went to work for the people building schools, hospitals, roads, factories so people could go to work and necessary infrastructure to help uplift Ghana out of poverty. It was quite clear in those days that the Matemeho politicians who called themselves the elite did not want him to succeed. They taunted Nkrumah and his followers as uneducated and veranda boys who had no place in politics. In the end, when they saw Kwame succeeding they had to subvert him with outside help, Unpatriotic!? Today, they call themselves “New Patriotic” We have forgiven them but not forgotten that they set our clock of progress backwards and we must have the chance to probe their stewardship after eight years in office, if not, we would never know! In his answer to Nkrumah’s plan for free compulsory education for the northern parts of the country Dr. Busia said cocoa did not grow in the north, therefore cocoa money from people in the south should not be used to educate northerners!

Obama’s message of change brings hope but reminds us of the same message some decades back that Kwame Nkrumah preached, and for which he was undermined by the same people now hailing the message. We can only bring hope to the people by changing the status quo, not by continuing in the same direction with the same old hands. We must learn and replicate this example as a people. They have not improved our lives and it is time for them to go! The CPP believes that every Ghanaian will win his self dignity and respect back if he/she has a secured job to go to, to earn a living and pay his/her family’s medical, educational and other bills. The CPP is a party with inclinations towards welfare for all Ghanaians, their jobs, their competence, living conditions, environment and general security issues. Kwame Nkrumah left a legacy for all Ghanaians who genuinely care about welfare and wellbeing for all. Today, countries with the same mindset are well-to-do and the gap in these countries between the rich and poor is lessened. We believe in the Ghanaian, and today we are here to unite Ghana and help build a democratic, prosperous Ghana based on Dr. Nkrumah’s dreams of equality and respect, social justice, peace and development. We in the CPP believe that we must build a country where a people with diversity and different backgrounds are presented with same possibilities. These are the values Obama won on and the values CPP is pursuing under Dr. Nduom and Dr. Abu Sakara Foster. The New nationalistic CPP is the party to bring Ghanaians together and it is focused, grounded in noble ideals and philosophies which promote a genuine concern and message of hope! By the bottom-up approach the CPP wants to emphasize that when we invest in the welfare of the people, we get a well informed, vibrant society of “haves” and “well-to-dos” who can make any society and any business function properly. We don’t believe that our image as a people is enhanced if we simply build castles for our leaders but go begging for food and medicines for our people. The CPPs position is that those who stand for the noble communal ideals championed by our founding fathers; Dr. Aggrey, Dr. Nkrumah and others should be given a chance to come back to power so corrections and re-organizations can be made in the way we use our money and organize our lives. Simply look at the presidential debates and you will find out that the Nduom-Sakara ticket offers Ghanaians the best chance of coming out of poverty. You can also see clearly that the CPP is focused and knows what to do if voted into power, it is strong again and is effectively wrestling power from the corrupt status quo.

“…….We must develop Ghana economically, socially, culturally, spiritually, educationally, technologically and otherwise, and produce it as a finished product of a fully integrated life, both exemplary and inspiring. This program, which we call a program of "Work and Happiness", has been drawn up in regard to all our circumstances and conditions, our hopes and aspirations, our advantages and our opportunities or lack of them. Indeed, the program is drawn up with an eye on reality and provides the building ground for our immediate scientific, technical, and industrial progress. We have embarked upon an intensive socialist reconstruction of our country. Ghana inherited a colonial economy and similar disabilities in most other directions. We cannot rest content until we have demolished this miserable structure and raised in its place an edifice of economic stability, thus creating for ourselves a veritable paradise of abundance and satisfaction……..” Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. This is our call, our dream and our hopes for Ghana as followers of Kwame Nkrumah, because this vision and dream is still realistic and achievable in our day. The party is not making wild promises but, humbly submitting what we can do as a people to change our lives if we adopt this selfless long-term line of approach.

The CPP Scandinavia wishes to advice Ghanaians not to be deceived by the wild promises as made by both the NPP and NDC (varsity here, factory there, billion dollar funding here, the moon and stars there), but to vote the CPP and Dr. Nduom into power for a better life for ourselves and our children. These two parties have tried their best, but their best has not uplifted us from widespread unemployment and poverty. The CPP has proved and done it before and can do it again for Ghana. YES WE CAN! Join the CPP and let us make it possible in our days. FORWARD EVER, YERESESAMU!

Lartey-Adjei, Festus Kwadwo (Labor consultant and Interim Chair, CPP Scandinavia