C.P National Delegates Congress Ends without a National Chairman

The first National Delegates Congress of the Convention Party (CP) ended in the early hours of Sunday, July 11th without any of the four contestants vying for the position of National Chairman emerging as winner.

None of the four contestants, Dr. E.N. Delle, a medical practitioner, Dr. Abubakar Alhassan, lecturer at the University for Development Studies, Prof. Mawuse Dake and Mr. Ebo Tawiah, both former functionaries of the erstwhile PNDC could gain the 51% or more of the votes required to win.

After about four hours of collation of results, the Electoral Commission released the results which saw Dr. Alhassan leading with 419 votes (37.5%) followed by Dr. Delle with 399 votes (35.3%) Mr. Ebo Tawiah came third with 268 votes (19.8%) and Prof. Mawuse Dake fourth with 49 votes (4%). 33 votes were rejected.

Supi Bentsi-Enchill who had earlier declared his intention to contest the national chairmanship withdrew at the last minute.

After the release of the results, the national executive committee decided to nullify the results and call for fresh elections in September when the party elects its flagbearer for election 2000.

Mr Felix Amoah, member of the Central committee, Mr P.K. Donkor Ayifli, fromer national vice-chairman, and Mr Mike Eghan chairman of the publicity committee, polled 840, 637 and 592 votes respectively to be elected First, Second and Third National Vice Chaiamend in that order. They won from a field of six which included Major Agbeko Sedziafa, Mr Kwasi Prempeh, and Mr Owusu Sekyere.

Dr Nii Noi Duwuona, incumbent General Secretary, retained his position when he beat Mr Kwasi Baidoo by 872 votes to 214 in a two-cornered contest.

The Position of National Treasurer saw Mr. Martin Donkor winning with 741 votes, followed by Mr. Kwadwo Danquah with 344.

Nana Kwesi Buckman took the bottom position with 25 votes whiles 25 votes were rejected.

In the General Secretary?s report, Dr. Nii Noi Dowuona said the agreement signed between PCP, NCP and PNC on August 11, 1998 is still hallowed, even with the withdrawal of some elements of the PNC.

He said, cited the regional task force concept which charged people from each region to organise regional branches of the party as one concept which has accounted for the success of the CP so far.

Dr. Dowuona described logistics as one of the major obstacles confronting the forward march of the party as it makes it difficult for the execution of plans that had drawn to ensure the effective mobilisation of supporters.

The Interim chairman, Mr. Kojo Botsio, earlier in his welcoming address said the first national Delegates conference should not be seen as an idle exercise fuelled only by nostalgia, but a giant step in the Nkrumahist revivalist movement with a commitment to eliminate the economic, social and political crisis into which Ghana has plunged.

He said the congress must be seen as a glowing signal from those whose sweat and toil liberated Ghana from the clutches of oppression and exploitation, that they will not allow any force on earth to destroy their achievements.

Mr. Botsio said one of the areas of major concern to the Convention Party is the new local government structures being put in place by the Rawlings administration.

"While the Convention Party fully endorses the policy of decentralisation, the CP will not accept any manouvre which makes local government structures appendages of the ruling government.

"The CP is considering the view that District Chief Executives also ought to be elected like the Presiding Members by the Assemblies.

"We should do everything possible to make local government institutions and structures serve the interests of the masses rather than the narrow political ends of failing regimes" he added.

Mr. Botsio appealed to all Nkrumaist outside the Convention Party (CP) framework to join it to help form a formidable party to take over the reigns of government.