Bismark Bebli
7 October 2008
Saltpond — THE PRESIDENTIAL Candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, has taken the Presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to task, over his pledge in the NPP manifesto to industrialise the nation.
According to Dr. Nduom, the promise of Nana Addo was untenable, considering the fact that the NPP, which originated from the UP tradition, destroyed Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's Industrialisation policy after the 1966 coup d'etat.
To this end, the CPP flag bearer has requested from Ghanaians not to vote for the two major political parties of the NPP and the NDC, but rather to hand over the governance of the nation to him, to ensure peace and progress for the nation.
Dr. Nduom made this remark last Sunday, at Saltpond, where he addressed various rallies. The CPP flag bearer's comments come in the wake of the NPP's manifesto launch where Nana Addo rolled out programmes and policies to industrialise the country under his Presidency.
"If he really wants to industrialise the nation, then why did the UP discontinue and destroy Nkrumah's industrialisation development plan for the nation? Industrialisation is the brain-child of the CPP and that was why we brought VALCO, Volta River Authority, Jute factory, Meat factory and many others," Dr. Nduom asserted.
The CPP flag bearer who was accompanied by Mr. Mike Eghan, the National Treasurer of the party and also a member of the party's campaign team, reiterated the need to vote for the CPP because they were going to revitalize all the dormant and collapsed factories when given the mandate.
According to him, the consistent violent clashes between NPP and the NDC were enough evidence for Ghanaians to know that a vote for anyone of them in the December general elections would spark off tension in the nation.
He further admonished party followers to debate on issues and refrain from insults and personality attacks, because the CPP unlike other parties does not believe in the politics of violence. "We in the CPP do not encourage insults and any member of the CPP who goes contrary would be disciplined according to the party's rules and regulations. We are decent minded people and shall debate only on issues that can move the country forward," he said.
Addressing separate rallies within the Mfantsiman West and Gomoa East constituencies, Dr. Nduom criticized both the NPP and NDC for 'stealing' CPP slogans.
According to him, the NPP's use of 'We are moving forward" was stolen from the CPP's motto of 'Forward ever, backward never', while he also accused the NDC of usurping the CPP's 'Yere Sesamu' (Change) slogan.
He added that the CPP was now revitalized to govern the nation after the end of President Kufuor's tenure in office. He urged the electorate across the nation to vote for the CPP, which he assured Ghanaians of having the capacity of creating jobs and to help eradicate poverty and massive unemployment.
Taking the electorate through the policies and the programmes of the CPP, he argued that the CPP was poised to move into the Flag staff house after the December elections and promised to be the first occupant of the refurbished seat of government, after Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah last used it.
Speaking extensively at the Mfatseman constituency, Dr. Nduom gave a signal to the sitting MP, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, to be ready for a battle from the CPP parliamentary candidate in the constituency, who is prepared to take over the seat.
According to him, the seat belonged to CPP, but it was mistakenly taken over by the NDC for two terms and the NPP also had it for two terms, but advised that the seat was now ready to return to its real owner, the CPP.
Speaking with vim and full of excitement, Dr. Nduom predicted a massive win for the CPP in the upcoming elections. He allayed the fears of the people and noted that the party would soon present their parliamentary candidate to them.
He asked the people in the Central region to vote for him, not because he hails from the region, but because he was a credible Presidential candidate, and said it was also good to have a Presidential candidate from the region. He added that "Prof. Mills says, 'adeewofie oyee' but I am saying to you that 'se adepapa wofie, oye' and that is why I am Papa Kwesi Ndoum."
Earlier, Dr. Ndoum visited the 12 Apostles Church of Ghana during their Fasting and Prayer festival celebration, where he gave an offertory of GH¢200, with a promise to meet the leadership of the church.
He implored on the leadership of the church to pray for a peaceful election, stressing that Ghana belonged to all of us and anything bad should befall the nation.
At Gomoa Broafo, he presented the parliamentary candidate to the people and asked them to vote for the CPP presidential and parliamentary candidate.
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