PPP Receives Interim Certificate

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom's Progressive People's Party (PPP) has become the latest political party in the country.

This follows the receipt of its provisional certificate to organise itself into a fully-fledged political party.

With the interim certificate, the party will be able to organise itself and undertake other activities to meet the requirement of the Political Parties Law before receiving the final certificate as a political party.

Briefing the Daily Graphic at the party’s office after receiving the certificate, the National Secretary of the PPP, Mr Kofi Siaw-Asamoah, said with the provisional certificate, the PPP would be able to continue with its massive membership mobilisation drive.

A copy of the provisional certificate which was shown to this reporter was signed by a Deputy Chairman of the EC, Mr Kwadwo Safo-Kantanka.

It reads, “This is to certify that the Electoral Commission has presented the PPP with a provisional certificate of registration as a political party on this day, Thursday, 2nd February, 2012 in partial fulfilment of the Political Parties Act...."

Mr Siaw-Asamoah expressed excitement about the event and said members of the party were gingered to roll up their sleeves and embark on massive membership drive towards realising the vision of winning the 2012 elections as the third force on the Ghanaian political scene.

“We welcome the decision by the Electoral Commission to grant us the provisional certificate despite the difficult processes involved in party registration. We want to congratulate the Electoral Commission on the professionalism with which they have conducted their activities all these years,” he added.

He said as part of the national mobilisation of members, the party would open nominations for parliamentary aspirants from February 6, 2011 to February 29, 2012 .

Aspirants are to pay GHc100 for the nomination fee. Male aspirants above the age of 35 will pay a filing fee of GHc1000, while males below 35 years and females would pay GHc 500.

Mr Siaw-Asamoah asked the party executives in the various regions to ensure that they encourage more females to pick up nominations to attain the party’s 30 per cent quota for women, adding that this should be done possibly through “positive discrimination for women”.

He said the PPP considered the provisional certificate as an opportunity to organise properly and to demonstrate to Ghanaians that it was capable of fighting to move Ghana away from mediocrity, the culture of indiscipline, “the constant failure of leadership, the mismanagement of our natural resources and the gargantuan crimes perpetuated against the state”.

“We are ready to offer progressive and pragmatic leadership that focuses on education, job creation, industrialisation, housing and preventive diseases that will lead Ghana to prosperity in peace,” Mr Siaw-Asamoah added.