Opposition for Coalition

In an interview with The Chronicle on telephone yesterday, The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah supported the RPD�s initiative, saying it is a good idea that the opposition parties must consider. Mr. Asiedu-Nketiah, however, said it did not mean that there were plans underway by the NDC to form a coalition with any party for now. On his part, the General Secretary of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Mr. Ivor Greenstreet, maintained that he did not know much about the leadership of RPD and more importantly what the party stands for. He continued that at the moment, the CPP was not thinking about a coalition with the other parties. He, however, noted that any coalition would be based on whether the party was Nkrumahist and shares the same ideologies like their founder. He concluded that the merger would be discussed at an internal meeting before approval. The Leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Mr. Dan Lartey was, however, emphatic that his party would never form any coalition with the other opposition parties. Asked whether he can win the elections on his own, Mr. Lartey, who is on a campaign tour in the regions, maintained that the NDC and NPP were playing to the gallery and that on December 7, the electorate would definitely take a decision. Mr. Francis Kyei, who proposed the idea, said the coalition would provide a common platform to all the opposition parties who are championing change in one form or the other, on the political scene. According to Kyei, the RPD was touting change in leadership, while the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) is calling for a green revolution, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Convention People�s Party (CPP) clamouring for social development changes for a better Ghana. The RPD chief scribe also stressed that there was the need for all the opposition parties to pool their resources together and forge ahead in unity, to achieve a common aim of dislodging the incumbent government. Mr. Kyei reiterated the commitment of the party, said to be youth-centred, to champion the concerns of the Ghanaian youth, saying the party would work for all who made huge sacrifices for the growth of the NPP but have been marginalized. He said the RPD enjoys massive support from the youth and was therefore going to influence the outcome of the December elections. Kyei said with innovation, youth empowerment through job creation and sound economic policies, Ghanaians are assured of a better governance and economic development. He empathized that it is time the youth got involved in the decision making process to make Ghana a better place to live in.