‘PNC, CPP unity talks progressing steadily’

HE second highest decision bodies of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) have given the green light to the leaders of both parties to ensure that the ongoing unity talks resulted in a single united Nkrumaist political party.
According to the bodies, when all rough edges were strengthened, and modalities for the unity were clearly defined, then the national congresses which were the highest decision making bodies of both parties would give their final nod for a united party.
The National Chairman of the CPP, Mr Ladi Nylander and the General Secretary of the PNC, confirmed this to the Daily Graphic in separate interviews.
According to Mr Nylander, at a CPP family meeting, a decision was taken for talks to begin with the PNC for a final merger and this was upheld by the Central Committee of the CPP.
He said as part of moves to ensure that a proper unity was achieved, the CPP had set up a seven-member committee which was working on the unity and would finalise its work in two months time.
He said the committee would submit its report to the Central Committee which would finalise it and present it to the congress for a conclusive decision.
Mr Nylander urged members of the CPP to remain calm as the leaders worked towards a workable and lasting unity talks.
He noted that although there had been similar talks for unity which had landed on the rocks, it would be in the best interest of all Nkrumaists to face the 2012 election with a united front.
He said unity with other Nkrumaist political parties was high on the agenda of the CPP more than anything, especially from the lessons learnt from previous elections.
The national chairman said there was every indication that the parties stood the better chance of making inroads in the next election if they came together.
For his part, Mr Mornah noted that both the National Executive Committee and the Standing Committee of the PNC had agreed to a united Nkrumaist front.
He said aside that, some leading members of the two parties had also been interacting regarding the unification and gave the assurance that this time round, the unity would be achieved.
Some members of the two parties across the country have called on the leading members of the parties to expedite action on the unity talks.
The members believed that with a united front, the two parties stood a better chance of winning an election than contesting individually.
One of such calls came from the Brong Ahafo Regional Executives of the United Nkrumaist Front made up of the CPP and the PNC had sounded a note of caution to the entire National Executives both of the PNC and CPP not to do anything to undermine the efforts of uniting the Nkrumaist family.
They, therefore, appealed to both the National Executives of the CPP and the PNC and the Presidential candidates who stood for the 2008 general election for both CPP and PNC to unite so that they would contribute their quota to the unity move.
The regional executives of the United Nkrumaist Front also urged the national executives of the two parties and the respective presidential candidates for the 2008 general election not to place their personal interest above that of the party.
In a press release issued in Sunyani and signed jointly by Mr Emmanuel Oduro and Nana Kyeremeh, Regional Organiser and Regional Chairman of the CPP and PNC respectively, they congratulated their colleagues in the Northern part of the country on their decision to unite and also urged other Regional Executives of the CPP and PNC to also issue statement of support to the agenda of unity.