National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nii-Allotey Brew- Hammond, yesterday ended speculations about an alleged merger with some other political parties for the 2016 election, stressing “PPP is not in alliance with anybody.”
Mr. Brew-Hammond also gave an indication that the PPP would go into this year’s election alone and on its own strength as a duly registered political party and not as an appendage of some other political parties.
The national chairman’s remarks followed continued media reports about ongoing unity talks between the PPP and some opposition parties including the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Some reports even claimed PPP had already merged with a political party and as a result has decided not to contest the 2016 polls.
But that claim, according to Nii-Allotey Brew-Hammond, “is not true” and that PPP “has come to stay” and will surely contest the 2016 election as we deem it fit.”
The national chairman was speaking during the formal launch of PPP’s national and Greater Accra parliamentary campaign committees in Accra yesterday.
PPP previously expressed its willingness to back a coalition of independent-minded people and political parties who share in PPP’s agenda for change which include amending the constitution to allow the election of District Chief Executives (DCEs), reducing the powers of the President and removing ministers from Parliament as members; separating the office of Minister of Justice from the Office of the Attorney General, providing free compulsory and continuous education to every child; and checking corruption among other things.
However, in Nii-Allottey Brew-Hammond’s view, the PPP’s stance about a coalition has been misconstrued, albeit conveniently, to mean invitation for a political merger.
“If you look at our manifesto that is translated in our10-Point Agenda, there is a preamble that talks about the spirit of inclusiveness that will enable us to use the best Ghanaians, that is what we talk about when we talk about coalition,” the PPP national chairman explained.
He said when PPP talks about a coalition; it is not talking about a merger.
“It is talking about how we include the best men and women to form government so that we can transform this nation into a paradise,” he said.
He said over the past 24 years, the other parties (NDC and NPP) have not filled the cabinet positions with the best of people the nation could boast of and that PPP was looking forward to forming an inclusive government in 2017 to bring about the much needed transformation.
He said in the meantime, the PPP is working hard to win power to occupy the Flagstaff House and as well as win the majority of seats in Parliament.
That, he pointed out, was the reason why the parliamentary campaign teams have been put together to help the party win enough seats to hold the balance of power in the next Parliament.
According to Mr. Brew-Hammond, the committees have been tasked to help elect parliamentary candidates, especially those with the high hopes of winning.
He indicated that the committees would also assist in recruiting good and popular candidates in constituencies that could yield political dividends for the PPP.
The PPP chairman said the campaign teams would stay in contact with the constituencies to offer advice and suggestions to the candidates.
He said, “the National Parliamentary Campaign Team will operate out of the party’s headquarters and, together with the Regional Campaign Committees (also based at their Regional Offices), coordinate election strategy and political communication with the various organs of the party and to the good people of Ghana.”
National Secretary of the party, Mr. Murtala Mohammed Ahmed, is the chairperson of the National Parliamentary Campaign Committee whiles Mr. Eugene Nana Afari Gyamfi chairs the Greater Accra Regional Campaign Committee.
He indicated the party’s determination to win seats in Parliament primarily, to establish itself firmly as an alternative to the NDC and the NPP.
According to him, the PPP’s parliamentary campaign “will win for the PPP one vote at a time, one town/village at a time and through our parliamentary candidates, demonstrate to Ghanaians that we have solid men and women to transform Ghana.”
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