CPP launches its manifesto

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Presidential hopeful for the Convention People's Party displaying a copy of the party's manifesto

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday July 23, 2008
THE Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) yesterday became the second political party after the Peoples’ National Convention to launch its manifesto for the 2008 general election.

The colourful ceremony held at the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel in Accra was attended by CPP stalwarts and sympathizers from all over Ghana.

Launching the 96-page document dubbed “New dawn, new vision,” Dr Pea Keri Doom, CPP flag-bearer said “in 1957 there were excitement enthusiasm and a high spirit of patriotism as Ghanaians basked in the glory of living in a newly independent country. In 2008 Ghanaians are crying for something new, different, inspiring and a leadership of the people from them that will break the back of poverty and lead to prosperity for all.

He said the manifesto “is promising a new dawn that is refreshing and promises a leadership that is committed to a sense of urgency to tackle national development.”

A Doom said “our community based campaign enabled us to enter into a variety of communities in the regions, interact with key stakeholders, listen and learn from the public in order to test our strength and appeal and this has been a serious, comprehensive and fulfilling campaign so far.”

He said in all the areas visited key issues such as unemployment, corruption and a caring government among others have been raised by the electorate adding “what Ghanaians want are the basic - a job that will pay a living wage, a roof over the head. Good drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, a good education for their children, good health and freedom to be what they choose to be”.

Dr Doom said for instance that since the CPP government under Dr Nkrumah was overthrown there had not been any meaningful attempt by subsequent governments to bridge the developmental gap between the southern and northern parts of the country.

“It has been made very clear to us that Ghanaians want change. Moreover, they want an alternative to the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. They know ad have experienced what the two have to offer and they are not just looking for any kind of change, they want a change they can feel in their pockets”.

He urged CPP sympathizers to work hard to ensure a resounding victory for the party saying “the campaign for the Flagstaff House should not be about noise, songs dances and which party can bus a huge crowd to rallies. We must show that we are ready to administer the affairs of the country from day one when we assume office.”

Dr Doom said the CPP lies on the foundation of three principles - social justice, self-determination and Pan Africanism and would pursue it vigorously when voted into office in the December poll.

The CPP’s 10 point agenda captured the manifesto include the creation of a just and disciplined society, improve performance of government, give power to the people and strengthen parliament to perform its legislative duties effectively.

Others are the provision of quality education for every Ghanaian child, provide abundant energy for industrilisation and rapid development, provision of better healthcare and cleaner environment, attack crime, narcotics drug trade and corruption, creation of homecoming secreta not as well as the creation of jobs.

The CPP believers that if the 10-point agenda is pursued vigorously, it will ensure accelerations of the country from a developing to a developed nation