Elections are key instruments for development — Progressive People’s Party
The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has asked the Ghanaian electorate to consider the 2016 Presidential and General Election as a key instrument for national progress and development and not a mere competition between political parties.
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The party has, therefore, urged the electorate to translate their disappointment into votes for the PPP in the 2016 election, assuring that “if they do, they will not be wasting their votes because PPP can win 2016.”
According to the National Chairman of the PPP, Nii Allotey Brew Hammond, the PPP had come to occupy a void, as an alternative party to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana’s politics.
He was sharing some strategic policy programmes of action the PPP could embark on between January, 2014 and December, 2016) with the Daily Graphic recently. He was accompanied by the National Secretary of the party, Mr Kofi Asamoah Siaw.
In the view of the PPP Chairman, moving into the year 2014, issues of providing clean water, finding solutions to sanitation problems, addressing preventable diseases, providing job opportunities, as well as ensuring the general good of society were essential considerations for the electorate in choosing who governs them.
PPP ideology
“We have no ideology,” he told the Daily Graphic, rather, he said, “ We are in politics to let Ghanaians know what we can do. We are pragmatist and solution providers.”
In line with these key objectives, he gave the assurance that the PPP would continue to hold press conferences, issue press statements, embark on public education and cooperate with civil societies to deepen good governance.
10 Point agenda/reforms
He also said the party was operating a 10-point agenda and mentioned incorruptible leadership and a law- abiding party purposefully sticking with the issues as key attributes of the PPP agenda.
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NDC/NPP performance
“For their poor performance in government,” the PPP Chairman opined that Ghanaians were disappointed in the NDC and the NPP.
According to Nii Brew Hammond, the 2012 election affirmed the PPP as the third largest party and the second largest opposition party in the country.
“All along, we have pledged our determination to offer constructive criticisms. By and large, we believe the Ghanaian heard our message and saw us as formidable enough to surpass other established parties in the 2012 election,” he stated.
Third largest party
In the view of Nii Brew Hammond, the PPP had come from nowhere to be the third largest party, which was a good signal that the PPP had a bright future.
“We believe that when Ghanaians see the PPP as addressing every day issues, if they see that we mean well to provide them with jobs, if they are sure of living wages, they will come to PPP for rescue. I want Ghanaians to have confidence in the PPP,” he asked.
He gave the assurance that the PPP had the competence to deliver to the expectation, of the nation and, therefore, encouraged the Ghanaian electorate to vote the PPP into power “If you can not make ends meet by 2016.”
Our goal is to fight corruption, Nii Brew Hammond stated, and pointed out that “once we make a headway in the fight against corruption, we will save funds for development. We will also look for additional resources hidden in our lack of national identification to tackle development projects.”
According to the PPP chairman, identifying Ghanaians, whereever they are, is a huge project that must be completed with all seriousness.
“It is reported in the media that only two million are contributing to our national coffers . That pales into insignificance if it is weighed against a national population of 24 million,” observes Nii Brew Hammond.
The problem, according to the PPP chairman, is that “where only two million are contributing revenue when we have 10 million or so working population, it is not good for a country needing revenue for accelerated development.”
He called for the immediate formalisation of the informal sector to enable the country to rake in the much needed revenue for national development.
“We should not tinker with this,” Nii Brew Hammond stated, and assured that “Ghanaians must have the faith that a leader will oneday come and do the right thing about national issues, governance and development.”
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He said that many of the country’s youth were disillusioned and had lost hope but challenged them to be hopeful and “engage in national debates and deliberations to create opportunities for all.”
“They cannot sit on the fence,” he emphasised.
PPP convention
On when the PPP will go for its national convention, the PPP chairman said after organising its polling station elections, the party is in the process of organising its constituency conferences to elect constituency executives throughout the country starting from November, 2013.
He said the regional executive committees had been directed to coordinate the elections under the supervision of the Electoral Commission.
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The party, he said, had also planned to conduct regional conventions to elect regional executives from December, 2013.
The party intends to hold its national convention to elect national officers in March, 2014, he disclosed.