Nduom for president

PRESS STATEMENT MADE BY COMRADE FELIX AMOAH A LEADING MEMBER OF THE CONVENTION PEOPLE’S PARTY & FMR MINISTER OF STATE IN THE LIMANN ADMINISTRATION OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC OF GHANA (AUGUST 9, 2007 AT THE GIPC IN ACCRA)

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media and Comrades, as the Convention People’s Party, CPP, gears up for its 4th National Delegates Congress to elect the Party’s national officers by the end of next month and Presidential candidate also probably by the end of the year, feverish preparations are under way at all levels of party organization throughout the country.

I must admit that the past four-year period has not been the best for the party. During the period under review, the CPP has been a sleeping giant.

I must also be quick to admit that each leading member of this huge political family, must take part of the blame for the party’s poor showing in the political arena in the past four years. We either remained passive and did not want to rock the boat or did very little to strengthen it. In other words, I am by this medium calling all party members to order. We should all stop the blame-game because the task of party building does not rest on the shoulders of only one person or just a small group of persons.

Fortunately however, a new era is dawning on our party. A few loyal and leading Nkrumahists have defied all odds and are leaving no stone unturned in the formidable and laudable effort to re-invent the CPP and make it very attractive, credible and competitive.

It is certainly in the light of the fore-going that I have decided to break my long silence today by throwing my weight and support behind a formidable CPP loyalist, Hon. Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, the CPP-MP for KEEA constituency in the Central Region to become the flagbearer for the CPP in the December 2008 General elections.

In other words, I am today appealing to all Party delegates for the up-coming National Delegates Congress and our teeming membership to endorse Hon. Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom as the CPP-flagbearer for the December 2008 Presidential Election. In the same vein, I am taking this golden opportunity to appeal to all Ghanaians to consider electing this affable gentleman and astute politician as the next President of the Republic of Ghana in December 2008.

Let me share with you, at this point, Paa Kwesi’s Nkrumahist’s CPP and Governance-Credentials:-

1. Paa Kwesi was born into the tradition. His father Master Yorke, an educationist was Director of the Young Pioneers in the Central Region.

2. While studying in the U.S.A., Paa Kwesi wrote several articles in the West African Magazine depicting the Nkrumaist Ideas / Ideals.

In 1995, K.N. adopted and sponsored 5 regions with cash, bicycles, T/Shirts and other logistics. He also selected and sponsored over 10 Parliamentary Candidates to contest the 1996 elections. The regions sponsored are; (a) Western (b) Eastern (c) Volta (d) Upper East (e) Central.

The National Delegates’ Congress of 1999 was funded by K.N. to the tune of c45 million and this was when he was not contesting any position and was actually out of the country in the USA.

To prepare himself for a higher position, he first contested an election and won to become an Assembly member in Akotobinsin-Elmina.

At the request of President Kufuor, the CPP Central Committee officially and formally released him to serve in the Kufuor Government.

In 2004 K.N. supported, campaigned and sponsored several Parliamentary contestants with cash, posters, billboards and other logistics.

He has shown exemplary qualities as a Minister in various ministerial positions, Economic Planning, Energy and Public Sector Reform.

He led the Ghana team in delivering the unprecedented sum of $547 million from the United States of America’s Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).

He led the team to prepare Ghana’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy that has brought many benefits to the economy; and was the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission.

K.N. was one of those who championed the legal battle to reclaim the name CPP and the Red Cockerel.

Paa Kwesi has therefore gained unequalled experience in Leadership and governance. He also has tremendous experience and strategy on how to win Elections. He is therefore the No. 1 choice to lead the CPP to Victory in 2008

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom won the December, 2004 Parliamentary election on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to become the Member of Parliament for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA). He won the election convincingly with 30, 981 votes against the 15,427 votes for his opponent from the NDC. His 66.8% win compares to the 52.8% of the presidential votes won by President John A. Kufuor in the same KEEA constituency to gain a second term. He is the Chairman of the Nkrumahist Caucus in Parliament. This Caucus is made up of CPP/PNC/Independent Members of Parliament. He has served on the following Parliamentary Committees since January, 2005:

Selection; Trade and Industry; Finance; and Local Government.

He has contributed actively to debates on the floor of Parliament. He is one of the most punctual members who is absent only when on official assignments in Ghana or abroad.

Statements he has made on the floor of the House include:

Accidents on the Kasoa-Yamoransa highway; Ghana’s Independence: and The Millennium Challenge Account Compact.

He can frequently be heard on the floor of the House asking members to be less partisan in their contributions and represent all of their constituents and not just their political parties. Dr. Nduom has been unhappy about the presence of the executive (ministers) in Parliament which he feels undermines the impact of the legislature on national life. Indeed, he has resolved not to serve in the dual capacity of MP and Minister of State again as he sees a conflict of roles and responsibilities.

He does not understand why the Majority Leader of the House also serves as a Minister of State. He considers the situation where Ministers of state are seated in front of Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees as an affront to the House.

Dr. Nduom will be long remembered as the MP who happens to be a Minister of State who questioned the Ghana @50 Secretariat and the nation’s preparedness for the historic Jubilee year of independence celebrations. He gave voice to the feelings and perceptions of Ghanaians as evidenced by the public reactions to media accounts of the comments he made in Parliament.

In his constituency, Dr. Nduom has been an MP with a difference-accountable, transparent and visible in the community. Through him, the name KEEA is recognized in many places nationally.

In addition, he from time to time goes on the local radio station, Ahomka FM, to give account of what is happening in Parliament and answers questions from the audience. He uses these occasions to present an account of how the MP’s share of the District Assembly Common Fund has been spent. He initiated Consultative Meetings of Stakeholders in the District to discuss development issues and their solutions. He also initiated meetings in Accra of KEEA citizens to inform them of developments back home and encourage them to take active interest in their hometowns.

Dr. Nduom has made building community libraries and community centers his area of focus. In this regard, he is building:

- A community library in Elmina and a smaller on in Brenu Akyinim for the Edina Traditional area; - A community library in Agona and a Community Center in the Berase Town for the Abrem Traditional area: A community library in Komenda for the Komenda Traditonal area; and A community library in Abreshia and a community center at Eguafo in the Eguafo Traditional area.

He has made it a point to participate actively in festivals in every traditional area in the constituency. When he cannot attend an event himself, he always sends someone to represent him.

Dr. Nduom has assisted many in his constituency to further their education. He has made it a policy that any student in his constituency who qualifies and gains admission to a university but has financial difficulties will be given assistance. Through this, he has made it possible for a number of students to go through university.

Dr. Nduom has been instrumental in forging good relationships between Elmina and the Netherlands, France and the United States of America. The Town of Provins, in France is cooperating with Elmina to improve tourism potential particularly through strengthening the planning and organization of the annual Bakatue and Edina Bronya festivals. Two members of the KEEA District Assembly staff have been sponsored to France to undertake refresher courses in public administration. He has also made contact with officials from the U. S. Virgin Islands to establish a cultural tourism relationship.

As the Member of Parliament and Minster of State, Dr. Nkuom lobbied successfully to ensure the dredging of the Elmina-Benya Lagoon to improve the fishing industry and the improvement of important roads such as the Ankaful-Amisano-Elmina road, the Agona – Essiam-Effutu road, the Komenda junction-Komenda road, the Edinaman Secondary School access road and others. He has also seen to the reconstruction of the Elmina bridge. He has seen to implementation of a very extensive electrification project in the entire constituency that has improved the living standards of many.

I have sought and obtained the approval of Hon. Dr. Nduom to form a Committee, to explore the feasibility of him becoming the flag bearer of the CPP and going on to win the 2008 Presidential election. Ours is simply an “Nduom for President” committee. I have also accepted to be the Chairman of the “Nduom for President” committee and I think it is a great honour to me. The Committee is national in character; some of the members are here with me. Regional and Constituency Committees are being organised to advance this noble cause. Our committee is setting out, knowing that the biggest task facing the CPP is to reorganize itself in a way to be considered a credible alternative to both the NDC and the NPP.

This task will be made easier with an enterprising National Executive and a united front in the Party. In our opinion, the task will be made much easier, if the Presidential Candidate of the CPP is Dr. Nduom. With common purpose and shared vision we can make this Party new, vibrant and truly great. The CPP in its new form, vibrancy and with its new organizational effectiveness is indeed the right alternative and can run this country.

Hon. Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom is someone who can unite Ghanaians and rally everyone behind a common purpose and direction for the good of this country. He has an excellent record in government. He has learnt the ins and outs of government, having started from the grassroots as an elected member of the KEEA District Assembly, representing the Akotobintsin Electoral Area.

He has an experience as a Member of Parliament and has held various positions as a Minister for six years and a half. He has won the respect and admiration in Ghana and in international circles as someone who delivers positive results. He is humble, down to earth and a very good family man.

In short, he is someone many people will want to lead this country as the President of the Republic in January 2009.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media and Comrades, I wish to end by encouraging more people to join our Party, and demonstrate to all that the Convention People’s Party is coming back to claim its rightful place as the Government of the people.

Long live the Republic of Ghana!

Long Live the CPP!

Kwame Nkrumah never dies!

There is victory for us!!

Forward Ever, Backward Never!

Thank you for coming in your numbers and God bless you!!