PPP renews challenge to flag bearers

*As Ga chief & queen-mother endorse party


The flag bearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has renewed his party’s challenge to President John Dramani Mahama and the presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on four personal points on incorruptible leadership, the attainment of which will signal personal incorruptibility and declared intent to fight corruption even before one becomes president.

In a statement issued yesterday and copied to this paper, the party said it is dedicated to a cause “that is a crucial pre-requisite for lasting peace and prosperity – a crusade against corruption and an undying commitment to fundamental change in Ghana.”

It further called on professionals in the country to also make similar commitment to fighting corruption which it said was eating away the fabric of the nation.
“The PPP is asking our leaders – politicians, businessmen and women, lawyers, MPs, Ministers of State, senior journalists and others to make a personal commitment to the principle of incorruptible leadership in a very practical sense,” it said.
Read below the full statement:
“The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has thrown an important challenge to the aspiring Presidential Candidates for the 2012 election. The PPP has dedicated itself to a cause that is a crucial pre-requisite for lasting peace and prosperity – a crusade against corruption and an undying commitment to fundamental change in Ghana. This is not politics as usual. The PPP is asking our leaders – politicians, businessmen and women, lawyers, MPs, Ministers of State, senior journalists and others to make a personal commitment to the principle of incorruptible leadership in a very practical sense.

Specifically, the PPP has thrown a challenge to all Presidential Candidates to make a firm commitment to the principle of incorruptible leadership. Incorruptible leadership is practical leadership that cannot be perverted, bribed, or corrupted. It is honest and just. It is this incorruptible integrity the party is referring to. Those who respond to the challenge are serious. And those who refuse are the ones playing political games with the future of our people.

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) is fully committed to provide what Ghana needs today – COMPETENCE and INCORRUPTIBLE LEADERSHIP. It is only the PPP and the bright red sun that can provide the Change Ghana Needs. The changes to the constitution we have committed to sponsor and the unprecedented transparency we will provide is proof that we are the only political party 100% dedicated to bringing true progress, peace and prosperity to our people.
We know that all manner of people, particularly propagandists and beneficiaries of state-sponsored corruption have taken us on. But we will not be deterred. Indeed, we welcome the insults, the abuse from those who want the nation to remain in the rot, the corruption so that their selfish interests can be met. We will not be part of blame game of who has done what and who is worse than the other. We are humans and as such we may have made mistakes. But we are not afraid to commit ourselves to a higher principle and the truth about what is killing our people.
Our Presidential Candidate, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has demonstrated his commitment to the principle of incorruptible leadership by making the following promises:
1. He will ask the Internal Revenue Service to provide me with certified true copies of his income tax returns so that he can release them to the public soon as he files nominations papers to officially become a candidate for the 2012 presidential election.
2. He will ask the Auditor-General to provide me with certified true copies of the assets report that he filed as a Minister of State and Member of Parliament and release them to the public as soon as he files nomination papers to officially become a candidate for the 2012 presidential election.
3. The PPP National Treasurer will release to the public our financial report that includes the sources of funding for our national campaign and certify our compliance with the Political Parties Law as soon as he files nominations papers to officially become a candidate for the 2012 election. We simply cannot trust and should never vote for any political party in Ghana that does not disclose the sources of its funding. We all need to know if people, foreign or local will be looking for inflated contracts or judgment debts to pay back the funds they used to finance a political campaign.
So the challenge is on. Some propagandists and apologists of presidential aspirants are all over the airwaves claiming that this is what is done already and it is the law. If so, let the presidential aspirants come and disclose and make the relevant documents public so the people can be the judges of their actions. It is not enough for people to sit at radio, television studios and at home to claim that they are not corrupt or there is nothing new in what the PPP is asking our presidential aspirants to do. We are not accusing anyone of being corrupt. All we are saying is, let those who want to lead do so from the front and show a personal commitment that can be emulated by the rest.
Transparency, accountability, the truth and personal discipline are needed if we want to move Ghana into a higher level of performance and give our people the opportunity to enjoy a world class standard of living in our lifetime.
For the avoidance of doubt, we emphasize the point that our current government systems and culture enable corruption to fester. The Jewish Torah sermonizes that "…he who leaves the pantry door open for the mouse to steal the cheese is the one responsible and accountable for the theft." If the system is bad, it is the responsibility of the leaders to fix it and not just throw their hands in the air and blame their subordinates.
This is the true character of the PPP – respect, discipline, positive energy and committed to incorruptible leadership. In our short period of existence, the PPP has sworn to work with great discipline and show respect to all Ghanaians including our political opponents. PPP’s colours are red and white. The white colour stands for discipline, purity and incorruptible leadership and red means determination, assertiveness and strength of character. Our symbol, the bright red sun means life, hope and being wide Awake! We are ready to work in the supreme interest of our nation, Ghana.
Kofi Asamoah-Siaw
National Secretary, PPP
…Meanwhile earlier last week, the chief and queen-mother of Ngleshie Alata, a suburb of James Town in Accra in the Greater Accra Region, have called on Ghanaians, particularly people of the Ga State, to elect to power flag-bearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, in the December 7 polls, since according to the two, Dr. Nduom has embodiment of ideas to transform the country.

According to the traditional rulers, looking at the track record of the leadership of the PPP, they are firmly of the view that the party has what it takes to transform the fortunes of the nation Ghana.

The traditional authorities who were welcoming the PPP running-mate, Ms. Eva Naa Merley Lokko, and her entourage to the palace of the Ngleshie Alata Paramount Stool used the occasion to convey to the entourage how impressed they were with Dr. Nduom’s commitment to ensuring that majority of the population will be educated.

The chiefs led by the Paramount chief of Ngleshie Alata, Obempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, lauded the PPP policy of making education compulsory and not just free, expanding healthcare, building of a new International airport in Kumasi and the construction of a gold refinery to refine the gold produced in the country.

"It takes visionary leadership to be able to make education a priority and I will entreat all who are seeking to lead our country to speak the kind of language that the PPP leader is speaking," he said.

Nii Kojo Ababio advised the PPP vice-presidential aspirant to motivate all people into the party saying it was going to be a difficult task; but was quick to encourage her to stand firm in her campaigning.
For his apart, the Ngleshie Alata Neyaa Mantse, Nii Ayi Krotia, recounted the achievements chalked by Ms. Lokko during her tenure of office at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), intimating that she is a great force to reckon with.
Queen-mothers of the area called on the Ga Traditional Council to consider Ms. Lokko’s tireless efforts in trying to change the lives of Ghanaians and vote massively for the PPP to win the December elections.
In an atmosphere shrouded in party and gospel songs, Ms. Lokko said the visit was to afford both she and the PPP the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the chiefs and peoples in the area and further seek the Traditional Council’s support and blessing during before and after the December 7 general elections.
Ms. Lokko shared with chiefs and people of James Town items listed in her party’s ten point Agenda and encouraged them to vote for and elect the PPP to power.
Ms. Lokko said she is convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the December 7 polls would be peaceful following a series of activities aimed at sensitizing Ghanaians on the need to embrace peace.
“Well, with the continual towing down of the politics of insults and the organization of numerous peace campaign seminars by civil society organizations (CSOs) across the country, I am convinced there would be peace,” she added.
Ms. Lokko also advised the youth to abstain from violence and instead analyze the policies of the various parties before casting their votes.
Pix: Paramount Chief of Ngleshie Alata Royal Stool, Obempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, introducing Ms. Eva Naa Merley Lokko to the gathering