CPP faces financial challenge for Election 2008

Accra, June 25, GNA - Mr Ladi Nylander, National Chairman and Leader of Convention People's Party (CPP), on Wednesday said the Party was facing serious bottlenecks in its effort to mobilise funds for Election 2008 campaign.

He said in spite of other difficulties that the Party was currently going through, "by far the biggest challenge that CPP has faced in recent months, and continues to face, is the issue of fund raising. "You may not know that I have personally been involved in Party fund raising activities in previous years. Never have I found it as difficult as in recent months," Mr Nylander stated in a response to the UK and Ireland branch enquiry made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

The CPP Chairman explained that most promises that were made during the pre-and mid-2007 Special National Delegates' Congress to elect a flagbearer had not yielded fruits.

He attributed the problem to the perceived nature of CPP in recent times "when some comrades appeared unfortunately to have adopted and fanned entrenched positions even after Congress.

"I believe this is what has now resulted in the current outward display of Party disunity. However, if we can somehow manage to fix the challenge of fund raising, I believe many of our internal problems would be significantly ameliorated."

Mr Nylander, however, assured supporters of the Party that the leadership was committed to loyalty and maturity and there was no turning back on those basic tenets of solidarity building. "It is very true that in recent weeks, things have not gone as well as we all would have wished and it is a source of disappointment and embarrassment for us all.

"This is unfortunate but I can assure all sympathizers that all hands are on deck using all available personnel and resources to try to get things back on track."

He also debunked the perception the executives had marginalized some individuals in the Party. "I can boldly say that opportunity has been offered to all who have requisite expertise to bring these on board."

Mr Nylander said in spite of the current challenges the leadership was exploring all possible avenue to keep the Party's electioneering machinery on course for electoral success in December. Mr R. N. A. Akomfrah, UK and Ireland Branch Chairman, had raised concern about recent turn of events within the CPP. He described as disheartening news about CPP in the media as well as the internal wrangling within the leadership and other leading members of the Party.

Mr Akomfrah reminded the leadership that "the CPP belongs to all of us and generations have sacrificed to get us to the point we are at now. I would ask on behalf of the UK and Ireland Branch that action is taken to unite our front, for it is the only way that we would make progress in Election 2008."

"Many have already lost interest in our cause in recent months and if we are to consolidate the gains we have made and hold on to recent converts then action is needed and needed urgently to demonstrate to the country and indeed CPP members that we are ready to be counted at the main table of Ghanaian politics."

Issues raised by the UK and Ireland branch included recent public disunity of the Party, delay in launching the national campaign, appointing Deputy Officers, marginalisation of some individuals and failure to equip the organisers of the Party. 25 June 08