General News of Monday, 4 July 2011

Source: GNA

Nduom sets up committee to explore CPP's viability in 2012

Sunyani (B/A), July 4, GNA - The Youth for Nduom 2012 Expository Committee is embarking on a nationwide tour to explore the viability of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) in the 2012 general election. The Committee, which is now working in the Brong-Ahafo Region, would also ascertain reasons for the defeat of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, 2008 presidential candidate of the CPP in the general election.

The committee was set up by Dr Nduom with a membership of 40 and 400 volunteers, had already toured the Central, Western and Ashanti Regions and would move to the Upper West Region from Brong-Ahafo.

Mr Richard Nii Armah, Spokesperson, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) i= n an interview on Monday that the committee had already given questionnaires to the volunteers to be distributed to the electorate.

He said the questionnaire among other things would enable the committe= e to identify the major challenges that led to the abysmal performance of the CPP in the last election and what could be done to address such challenges for victory in 2012.

He said majority of the electorate the committee interviewed was of th= e view that Dr Nduom could not win in 2008 because he did not belong to a "strong party". The spokesperson said in the Western Region some of the electorate indicated that during the 2008 electioneering campaign they got confused about the slogan of the CPP 93Yeresesem," which literally means 93we ne= ed a change," a slogan that the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) a= lso used. Mr Armah stated that some of the electorate also observed that because Dr Nduom failed to involve the youth in the 2008 electioneering campaign hi= s campaign was not vigorous.

"His campaign message did not go down well to those of us at the grassroots," Mr Armah quoted one of the electorate as saying. He said some of the people also called on Dr Nduom and the CPP to come out with a clear policy that would ensure job creation as well as free, accessible and quality education. Mr Armah said the issue on the need for a vibrant CPP was raised and some of the electorate advised Dr Nduom to contest in the 2012 general election.