Over the past year some of us written privately to senior CPP executives to put forward the case for a change in direction of our party in a way that would allow the PNC and GCPP to come on board. Unfortunately, instead of the bigger tent that we have called for what we see is CPP old guards taking entrenched positions while their appointed agents in London propagate falsehoods about the party’s progress while attacking those who seek to modernise the party.
We are being asked to believe that so called party die-hards who have never won an election are better strategists than those who have actually won seats in parliament.
Those who are honest about the party’s state would admit that a total change in direction is required for electoral success. More importantly, once you dispassionately examine available options, the direction put forward by CPP and PNC mps which is being championed by Nduom is not only sensible, it’s the only practical approach given today’s political landscape.
While the CPP old guards think of Ghana pre 1966, Ghana’s politics changed when the PNP, a CPP government, was illegally removed from office by the (P)NDC. The new reality on the ground is this; the NPP has more than half of the electoral votes, the NDC has about 45%. The CPP and PNC have collectively less than 5%.
Against this background, if you want electoral victory, there are at least 2 things that need to be done as a first step;
1) there must be unity between all Nkrumahists parties- devoid of any conditions, 2) there must be a new policy direction, which accommodates the views of Nkrumahists AS WELL AS those who are fed up with NPP and NDC but are not Nkrumahists.
Nkrumahists must be prepared to make concessions to bring others on board.
Unfortunately the CPP old guards’ view is that anyone who wants an alternative to NPP or NDC must accept Nkrumahism, as well as the name CPP, its slogan and its logo. Their premise is that by taking such an uncompromising stand ex-cpp politicians would eventually return to their so-called ‘mother party’. I disagree.
Why would a Rawlings-NDC die-hard leave the NDC, which believes it is on the verge of returning to power, to join CPP? Need I ask the same about NPP die-hards?
The CPP can only attract people from the NPP and NDC if, and only if, the CPP offers those supporters a policy framework that they are happy with - something attractive for them to leave their current parties. This is the all-inclusive approach put forward by the CPP and PNC members of parliament, and championed by Nduom. This is the strategy supported by CPP modernisers. This approach is not based on symbols, logos or party names. It is based on the premise that each and every one of us, Nkrumahist or Danquah Busiaist has something to contribute to the development of this country. And it is by working together, that we can realise the full potential of our people and our nation.
For the avoidance of doubt, most of us are Nkrumahists. Nkrumah’s contribution to Ghana, pan africanism and in restoring the pride of the black man is etched in history, notwithstanding attempts by some to falsify the records. But Ghanaians want real living leaders, to question and judge them by their records.
While the CPP old guards hold steadfastly on to their own interpretations of Nkrumah’s vision, Ghanaians continue to suffer. Only 5% of our people live beyond 65 years (census 2000) 1.2 million children are engaged in child labour. A huge number of the youth are living in kiosks and uncompleted buildings. Young girls from the north, where NDCs liberalisation policies wiped off local rice farming can only dream of a life as Kaya Yies. Disease and accidents are destroying families. Corruption still dominates public life and our children’s moral values are falling because of poverty and the lack of ethical and moral leadership. We CAN do better.
The CPP and PNC mps are right. We need to work together across old political divides and across traditional rivalries to free our people from poverty. CPP old guards must show magnanimity and extend an arm of brotherhood to all who want to join us to free the masses from poverty.
Ghanaians are fed up of exclusive politics. Ghanaians are fed up of tribalism, whether it is NPP tribalism or NDC tribalism.
That is why we need to set out a different path. That is why we support the ALL-INCLUSIVE politics that Nduom and the CPP and PNC mps are talking about. And that is why we support the formation of a new party. After all, when Nkrumah’s ideas were rejected by the UGCC he started a new party!
Politics is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end. CPP is not the end, Freedom from poverty for the masses of Ghana is.
Our task is to bring Ghanaians together to achieve this. If you believe like us in politics that unities us, makes Ghana stronger, a prosperous nation; if you want to fight poverty; if you believe in politics of inclusiveness, join our movement today.
For further information Email kdonkor2@yahoo.co.uk
Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.
