CPP Elders incite members for internal Positive Action

Accra, Dec. 7, GNA - The Council of Elders of the Convention People's Party (CPP) on Thursday called on the membership of the party to wake up for internal Positive Action to invigorate CPP towards Elections 2008.

The Council defines 93Positive Action=94 as a legitimate and non-violent expression of political activists' power to redress and stop internal decay, backbiting, rancour and lack of operational direction by the leadership of the party.

In a statement signed by Mr K. Amoa Awuah, its acting chairman, the Council urged the rank and file of the party to heed the clarion call for Positive Actions and deem it as a justifiable whimper for action in all affairs of the Party.

The CPP Council also lauded the organisational timetable issued by =91The Patriots', a pressure group within the Party, which called on the leadership to immediately launch a programme for wards elections by February 2007, to be followed by Constituency elections in March 2007. The Patriots had called for regional executive elections to be held by the end of April 2007, to set the pace for the National Delegates' Congress in June 2007 to select a presidential candidate and also to build a quality leadership team capable of supporting and marketing the flagbearer.

"The plan and timetable for internal party elections is a reasonable proposal and is an obvious expression of loyalty and show of concern for the Party, even though it is the wish of the Council that the National Delegates Congress be held earlier --March or April, 2007-- rather than June as proposed by The Patriots," the Council stated. It however expressed disquiet about lack of clear directions for Elections 2008. "Our hopes for Elections 2008 are turning into anxiety as time seems to be running out for the implementation of the desired plans for the re-organisation of the party for internal elections, as well as the 2008 general elections."

The Council therefore appealed to the Central Committee of the Party to organise a meeting to discuss apparent inherent problems, including that of finance.

It also called on the Central Com mittee to immediately enact regulations to govern and direct the selection, vetting and election of a presidential candidate in accordance with Article 72 of the CPP Constitution.

According to the Council, such a directive would stop "the menace and unruly, disrespectful behaviour of some of the aspiring presidential candidates and instil party discipline." "Alongside such a plan, we expect the Party Leadership to launch a detailed organizational scheme that should include all the relevant elements, namely the structures, systems and procedures designed to guide the new set of leadership teams across the country after the elections for efficient politicking," the Council stated. 07 Dec. 06