CPP plots strategies for next four years

CPP Meeting Read by E. agyeI

CPP strategises

for next four years

Story: Donald Ato Dapatem

IN its bid to promote harmony among all its past and present executive, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has held a meeting for both old and new executive members to chart the way forward for the party in the next four years.

The meeting, which was part of the transitional process, was also to plot strategic moves to embark on the launch of a sustainable membership drive that would propel the CPP as the party of choice for the electorate.

It was attended by almost all the current executive and a former Vice-Chairperson, Madam Araba Bentsi-Enchil; a former Women’s Organiser, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim, and a former Youth Organiser, Kwabena Bomfeh.

Public perception about the CPP is that it has always had a divided front. This is born out of the fact that prior to every congress, some leading members of the party with interest in both the chairmanship and the flagbearership select persons for various positions on their slate. Unfortunately, if those members on such slates are unable to make it in the elections, they tend to sit on the fence or stridently criticise the elected group.

This has affected the fortunes of the party during elections.

It was to cure this canker that the meeting was held at the party’s headquarters in Accra. It also afforded the members the opportunity to share experiences on the past performance of party organisation.

A leading member of the party, Mr Michael Nunoo, also made a presentation on an organisational Blueprint he had prepared for the party in 2007, after which there were suggestions for modification from the participants.

The meeting also considered suggestions for efficient revenue generation.

Soft Tribe, a computer software company, also made a presentation on how the party could, through the use of information technology, embark on a membership drive and resource mobilisation.

The CPP’s Election 2008 running mate, Dr Abu Sakara, chaired the section of the meeting that collated suggestions on the formulation of strategic initiatives for the launch of a membership drive and the achievement of party goals.

In a chat with the media half-way through the meeting, the Chairperson of the CPP, Ms Samia Nkrumah, said the meeting was part of a carefully thought-out transition process to ensure that no single member was left out from the work ahead.

She said the party was exploring all legitimate and possible ways, particularly through the use of technology, for its mass membership drive.

She added that it would also create a conducive atmosphere that would awaken the hardworking spirit in every single member to lend his or her support, as well as put his or her shoulders to the wheel.

Ms Nkrumah said the party was also putting measures in place to ensure that it came out with credible and marketable aspirants who would be able to secure parliamentary seats for it, adding that while doing that, the CPP would not diminish its search for a presidential candidate.

The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, said the party was being guided by the 2008 membership drive that was able to generate over 500,000 card-bearing members but which did not reflect in the elections.

He said the party later found out that most of the people decided to vote for either the NPP or the NDC because they felt the CPP was not strong enough to make any impact and that a vote for the CPP would be a waste.

He noted, however, that most of those people had regretted voting for the NDC, two years into its administration, and were in a rush to rejoin the CPP.

He said it was incumbent on the current executive to provide such members and other Ghanaians who had goodwill towards the CPP with the necessary avenue to be part of the party and help build a stronger machinery that would make a strong showing in the 2012 elections.