Race for President; Three Names Pop Up From The CPP

Impeccable Bright Akwetey

As Ghana moves close to November 2016, more and more people are jumping up and proclaiming themselves as being fit for the position of President.

So far only President John Dramani Mahama has managed to complete party process in the National Democratic  Congress(NDC) for the competition to be elected as Presidential candidate.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has already endorsed Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo as its presidential candidate.

In the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) three names have already popped up for the contest which is expected to be intense.

Former General Secretary, Ivor Greenstreet has thrown his hat into the ring and observers say that he could cause an upset.

Samia Yaba Nkrumah, immediate past chairperson of the party and Mr Bright Akwetey, a lawyer with impeccable Nkrumaist credentials have also announced their interest in running for the presidential candidate race.

Interestingly, Dr Abu Sakara Foster, the Presidential Candidate for the 2012 elections has still  not declared his interest in the race.

There is also credible information that at least two others in the party are preparing to announce their interest in the presidential candidature of the party.

In the Peoples National Convention (PNC), the indications are that Dr Edward Mahama and Hassan Ayariga will vie for the presidential slot.

Editorial

LEAVE EC ALONE

It must be clear to those who believe that only they must have a say when it comes to the discussion of national elections, that the people of Ghana desire an independent Electoral Commission.

 An electoral Commission that is not beholden to any political party and which is determined to ensure that the true will of the people prevail.

It is significant that almost all those who spoke at the public forum sponsored by the EC on the voters Register emphasized the need for the commission to be independent.

The Insight accept that all the political parties and other Ghanaian bodies have a right to express their views on what  should happen or not happen to the voters register.

However we insist that nobody or institution should be allowed to dictate to the EC in the performance of its duties.

GREENSTREET: WILL HE JUMP INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE?

Ivor Greenstreet

Asks Ekow Mensah

All eyes are on Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, immediate past General Secretary of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) because his decision to contest the presidential race for 2016 could have earth shaking consequences within the party.

There can be no doubt that even if Greenstreet does not win the race, his participation would make a substantial difference about who will win.

Three people have already thrown their hats into the ring and are expected to begin vigorous campaigns across the country.

They are Dr. Abu Sakara Foster, the presidential candidate for 2012, Onzy Nkrumah, whose claim to being Nkrumah’s son is still being contested and Samia Yaba Nkrumah, immediate past National Chairperson.

The strength of Greenstreet is that he appears to have an extraordinary big war chest and has personally visited all the branches of the party and relates on first name basis with organizers at the grassroots.

Sources within the party say that Greenstreet initially wanted to contest for the position of National Chairman and leader of the party but had to abandon that contest on account of the overwhelming popularity of  Dr. Edmund Delle.

The CPP got less than one percent of popular votes in the last general election and observers insist that the party would have to rebrand itself to gain relevance.

This is a problem which Samia Yaba Nkrumah appears to recognize.

 In her handing over speech, Samia said the CPP would have to move further to the left and take a firm stand against the prescriptions of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for national economic revival.

Onzy Nkrumah’s claim to the presidential candidature of the CPP is simply just based on the unproven claim that he is the son of the first President of Ghana.

 He has said that he wants to be the Presidential candidate so that he can finish the good work started by his “father”.

 Informed observers say that the CPP can be positioned as the third force in Ghanaian politics to attract persons who are disillusioned about the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

 At the time of going to press, Dr Sakara had allegedly told the “Daily Dispatch” that he may not run for the presidential candidature of the party.

 There are no indications as to what will make him run.

Editorial

TROJAN HORSE?

 This must be very strange but it is happening in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) currently led by President John Dramani Mahama.

Ezanator Rawlings, daughter of Ghana’s longest serving President has refused to rate the sitting President insisting that she is not a rating agency.

The truth is that Ezanator can’t say that the President is doing well and she is also sure that if she condemns President Mahama  she would lose the contest for the Parliamentary seat at Korle Klottey.

 The real question is why Ezanator Rawlings is finding it very difficult to say that the President and therefore her own party is doing well?

 Could it be that she shares the criticism of the president by her dear mother and is only keeping quiet to enable her sneak through the Parliamentary primaries?

This question gains more relevance when she sets conditions for the return of her mother to the NDC.

Is she getting into the NDC to finish what her mother started?

Could her father’s endorsement of the NPP position on the voters’ register mean anything?

Somebody may be pushing a Trojan horse right into the very centre of the Mahama Administration.

Unfortunately the President cannot see what is happening and by the time he opens his eyes it may well be too late.