Anyone who cannot pay GHC20,000 is unworthy of leading the CPP- Bright Akwetey

A leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Bright Akwetey, says it is for a better course that the party has stipulated an amount of GHC 20000 for its flagbearership race.

Bright Akwetey who has expressed interest in picking forms to contest the party’s flagbearership slot asserts that any member of the party, who is in contention with the stipulated amount, is unworthy of leading the CPP.

According to him, the party is “handicapped” and it is about time funds were raised to espouse the activities and the entire objective of the party. He expressed that the party should be the pivotal focus of each member and would not support any form of insurgence.

“…if you want to be a flagbearer, you have to go and gather funds to the tune of GHC 20000 and pay to the party. And happily we are paying it to the party and not any individual so that the party can organize itself. And if you want to be a flagbearer, you must be able to stand in good and formidable structures to win election. The money is part of the contribution to help improve the structures on the ground to assist the flagbearer to win the elections; so it might be on the high side but it’s for a good course”, he told Xfm on the Big bite morning show.

He added that the money requested by the party would be channeled into the financial purse of the party towards their national congress and the general elections all in this year.

He passionately averred that “if you want to be a flagbearer, then, be prepared to assist the party to organize itself for you to come and stand on its shoulders. If you are not ready to be a flagbearer, then go and stand for some other position.”

Touching on the same issue of whether or not the stipulated amount is exorbitant, the CPP Communications Director, Nii Armah Akomfrah, insists the amount is a form of raising funds to restructure the party.

Speaking to Xfm, Nii Armah Akomfrah said the action taken by the party executives is a timely intervention to revive and unify the party. He believes when this is achieved, CPP can wangle its way into the Presidential seat on January 7, 2013.

He further explained that the Convention People’s Party needs to be resourced and therefore implored the entire party membership to see the move as a step ahead for victory.
“We hope that our members will understand and our fans will understand the need for us to raise finances to be able to have a successful congress. And that is the overriding factor.” he appealed.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Xfm 95.1/Accra/Ghana