THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) has commended the Mills Administration for instituting measures to ensure that the 100th birthday anniversary of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his subsequent birthdays are celebrated as public holidays.
This is in recognition of Dr Nkrumah’s immense contribution to the foundation and development of the country.
The party, however, requested that in the true spirit of genuine and complete national reconciliation, the government must also return the party’s property which was genuinely acquired but were seized after the 1966 coup that toppled the Nkrumah government.
The National Chairman of the CPP, Mr Ladi Nylander, made the request at a press conference in Accra yesterday to mark the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the CPP.
He named some of the assets as the party’s national headquarters which currently houses the Ministry of Information,CPP’s offices in Sunyani and Kumasi,currently being used as the Regional Police Headquarters and the Ministry of Education offices, respectively.
Sixty years ago,Dr Nkrumah with the support of some followers broke way from the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) to form the CPP at Saltpond in the Central Region.
Mr Nylander who is the chairman of the committee set up by President J.E.A. Mills to organise Dr Nkrumah’s 100th birthday anniversary, reminded members of the party to use the 60th anniversary as an opportunity to uphold the principles the founding father left and the selfless manner with which he conducted the affairs of the nation.
He also used the occasion to pay glowing tribute to some leading members of the party, both dead and alive, who through their toil and sacrifices, had maintained the party through turbulent times till date. Mr Nylander mentioned some of them as Mr Kojo Botsio, K.A. Gbedema, Grace Ayensu, Mabel Dove, Imoro Igala , Krobo Edusie, Nana Okutwer Bekoe and other unknown foot soldiers.
He also mentioned the recent day leadership as Abubakar Alhassan Edmund Delle, himself, Prof. George Hagan, Mr George Aggudey and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom.
“This is the occasion to remember the gallant men and women who believed that …”the black man is capable of managing his own affairs” and worked hard to prove that the African personality meant excellent and patriotic behaviour.
Recounting the chequered history of the CPP, Mr Nylander said the party had not had it easy since it was banned after the 1966 coup, after contesting in the 1989 general election under the guise of People’s National Party (PNP) and being in opposition for 28 years.
He said it had not had it easy in the Fourth Republic, because since 1992, the party’s front had been divided into parties like PNC, NIP, People’s Heritage Party (PHP), NCP, PCP, CP and GCPP.
He said through the efforts of some gallant members, the party was able to seek a court judgement to regain the name CPP in 1998.
Mr Nylander described the party’s recent performance in general elections as “disappointing”, adding that the current CPP “bears little or no resemblance to the CPP of the glorious First Republic, adding “It is as if the very soul of our party departed in February 24, 1966”.
According to Mr Nylander, the current generation of CPP could not hang on forever to the success of Dr Nkrumah and others, but must work hard and sacrifice a little to erase the recent losses and become true winners again.
He said the CPP must present to the nation what it would have done if it had won the latest election, especially the fast track promised in its manifesto.
They included meeting with all stakeholders to find short and long term solutions and make public the solutions to the problems in the water sector, enforce existing laws on rent payment, launch the Ghana Emergency Employment Programme after an employment summit with stakeholders.
Mr Nylander reminded the party’s members that the party’s very survival was at stake and urged them to move together with a heightened sense of unity and common purpose to define the CPP and commit themselves anew to the principle of social justice, self determination and Pan Africanism.
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