CPP elects presidential candidate next month

Accra, Aug. 14, GNA - The Convention People's Party (CPP) will hold a special national delegates' congress, tentatively next month, to elect a presidential candidate for Elections 2008, a party source has said. The source told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday that potential candidates had started canvassing for support across the country. It said the CPP Central Committee would soon announce tentative dates for opening of nominations for presidential aspirants, as well as national executive officers and that vetting of aspirants would immediately follow the filing of nomination.

Leading members who had expressed the desire to contest for the presidential slot included the Party's flag bearer in 2004, Mr George Opersika Aggudey, Dr Kwaku Osafo, an Economist; Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, former Minister of Private Sector Reforms; Professor Agyeman Badu Akorsah, former head of the Ghana Health Service and Mr Bright Akwetey, a lawyer.

The source held that CPP would be the third force in the elections next year. "The name CPP will not only remind Ghanaians of the great deeds of the Nkrumah-led CPP, but would also lay bare the deficiencies of the ruling NPP and the main opposition NDC," it added. The person called on members of the CPP to ensure that the Party's strength was consolidated and revitalized.

Meanwhile, the Central Committee has approved a programme to prepare the Party for the Congress and directed all Regional Steering Committees to organize ward and constituency elections in preparation for the National Congress.

In the CPP presidential primaries held in 2003, Mr Aggudey, obtained 1,216 ballots from 1,800 delegates at the congress to beat Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama, a Veteran Politician and Lawyer, who had 461 votes.

The Party's incumbent national chairman, Dr Edmund Nminyem Delle, was elected during the primaries held four years ago. He polled 1,008 votes, beating Mr Iddi Egala, a Chartered Accountant, to the second place with 394 votes, while Mr Felix Amoah, an Electrical Engineer, placed third with 272 votes.

Mrs Araaba Bentsi-Enchil Svenson, a Political Scientist, and the only female contestant in the 2003 national executive polls, was elected the First National Vice-Chairman with 635 votes.

Mr Mike Eghan, a Veteran Broadcaster, was elected the Second National Vice-Chairman with 396 votes whilst Mr Johnny Hanson, another Veteran Politician, was elected Third Vice-Chairman with 240 votes. Professor Nii Noi Dowuona also retained his position as General Secretary with 1,156 votes to beat two contestants - Mr Kwasi Baidoo, 445 votes and Mr Ganiyi Akanni Balogun, 85 votes. Mr Martin Donkor retained his position as National Treasurer after, winning 1,219 ballots as against 465 votes obtained by Mr Ekow Duncan, a Management Consultant.