Dr Nduom hints of coalition gov't in 2017
Founder of the Progressive Peoples’ Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has hinted of a coalition government should the PPP be given the nod in 2016.
He said the party was in talks with other political parties to form a formidable force ahead of the 2012 presidential elections.
Speaking to journalists in Accra, Dr Nduom said “I have said it but many people don’t seem to have noticed that I will be ready to support our party going into coalition arrangement with other political parties.”
Although he failed to disclose the parties the PPP would like to form an alliance with, Dr Nduom explained that, “if well-meaning people, political parties, individuals say let’s get together, increase our numbers, strengthen ourselves so that we can be a formidable force to see to the end of this NDC misrule, we will do it.”
According to him, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) have failed Ghanaians citing the inability of the government to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the country as well as the bickering within the NPP.
In his opinion, “the Progressive Peoples’ Party is the only credible political party standing,” adding that, “it will be such injustice to Ghanaians to see any party in power come January 2017 that is not the Progressive People’s Party, and if it is not us, that it doesn’t include the PPP, it just will be wrong.”
“It is my hope by speaking up and let people know that we are ready and that other people will understand how seriously our party takes this matter that we cannot let NDC and NPP…any administration with just those people in it will be wrong. It won’t work for Ghana,” he said.
“If Ghanaians want to do something good for themselves, they will abandon the two and just vote for the PPP but then the next choice will be to make sure that there is a coalition that includes the PPP so that the stabilising influence of our party will be there,” Dr Nduom added.
Retirement
Asked if he would contest the 2016 elections on the ticket of the PPP, Dr Nduom noted that the party was currently focusing on building its grassroots, adding that, “we haven’t talked about presidential politics. We want the focus to be on the party itself and for us to help build. We want to focus on building a party and finding credible parliamentary candidates who in their own communities can send the message and people will listen…People will get to see the different array of people, especially the young ones.”
He said further that, “People like me, our time is going away and so we will sit aside and make room. Presidential election is something we have put at the back. When we get there it will happen. Anything I say will take attention from what we are trying to do. It is important that our people get the exposure and attention that they need and that is what we hope will happen.”
Dr Nduom, however, gave the hint that he would retire from active politics after 2017.
He said “For me, after this election I will be sitting in the back room and push young people in the forefront and help them. I’m done with elections after 2017.”
He explained that, upon retiring, he would channel his energies towards training the youth to take up the mantle where he left off.
“It is important for us to train our successors and make sure that we get young people and properly advise and that is what I intend to do. But it is important that this particular election, that we send a clear message to Ghanaians that if we continue to do the same things, we will see the consequences of it and we will do whatever we need to do to explain why we should not continue to vote the same way,” he said.
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