NPP Does Not Need CPP - Botwe

NPP General Secretary Dan Botwe has alerted leaders and “king makers” in the CPP, that his party has no intention of merging with the Convention People’s Party for the 2004 elections, as is being speculated in some sections of the media.

Mr.Botwe denied to the Network Herald in an interview, reports that the CPP pushed by Minister for Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation, Paa Kwesi Nduom is in consultation with the New Patriotic Party and has requested for support in a number of constituencies in exchange for the CPP’s support for the NPP’s presidential candidate.

He described all the allegations and mud-slinging being undertaking by the leaders of the CPP especially in the media “a purely CPP problem”, because the New Patriotic Party has not had any formal meeting with the CPP and wondered in what capacity the minister would meet officials of the New Patriotic Party.

The ruling government’s very confident party scribe was emphatic that his party is not only capable of single- handedly winning the 2004 elections, but that it is certain of capturing a minimum of 140 seats in parliament.

As to how any teaming up deal could be brokered, Mr. Botwe who seemed to have toured all nooks and grannies of the country assured party faithful that a decision to join forces with any party including the CPP would not affect any of the targeted 140 seats. If anything at all, it is the remaining seats that would be compromised. For now, however it would go ahead to contest in all the 200 constituencies.

But the young witty politician was also quick to indicate that to the best of his knowledge, the New Patriotic Party has not ruled out all together the possibility of collaboration with any party that shares its vision and requests for its support. Mr. Botwe also suggested that if it really became expedient, his party would find it easier to merge with the CPP rather than the NDC because of that party’s professed abhorrence for multi-party democracy as is constantly espoused by party founder Jerry Rawlings.

Dr. Kwesi Nduom known in party circles as Senior Yorke has come under unfriendly fire in recent times from members of his own party who suspect ill motives in so-called attempts by the Regional Integration Minister, to enter into consultation with the ruling party for their support in 17 of the 200 constituencies.

As a reciprocal gesture, the CPP would then not field any presidential candidate, put its weight behind the NPP’s parliamentary candidate in 183 constituencies and support the candidature of the flagbearer of the NPP. This Mr. Botwe concedes, makes a lot of “strategic sense” for a political party whose support base in most parts of the country cannot win seats.

In any case he emphasised that even though no formal agreement has been engendered with the CPP, the idea of merging cannot be completely ruled out. He said the party could forge some links with the CPP if the proposal is approved at its national delegates congress which is the highest decision-making body of the party.