Politics

Samia must relinquish seat or lose it – Kwesi Jonah

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Political analyst, Kwesi Jonah says it is crucial for the new chairperson of the Convention People’s Party, Samia Nkrumah to as a matter of urgency start mentoring another person to take over from her as MP for Jomoro, the party’s only parliamentary seat. The daughter of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, over the weekend became the first woman to be elected chair of a major political party in the country winning by a landslide. Kwesi Jonah told Joy News, it would be in the interest of Samia herself and the party as a whole for her to relinquish her parliamentary seat. He said the job of the chairman is so onerous that if he was Samia, “I would identify and encourage somebody to go, next time around, for the Jomoro seat so I can concentrate on my chairmanship role.” That decision must be taken, if it has to, quickly, he said, because “If you want to identify somebody, coach the person to step into your shoes, it takes time not only to coach the person but also to help the person to identify sources of funding.” Mr Jonah said the CPP was a party in decline and if Samia does not dexterously combine her roles as party chairman and a parliamentary candidate, the CPP “could pretty well lose that seat as well.” But the 2008 Presidential Candidate of the CPP, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom disagrees. He said while there are some people who can’t do even one thing well, there were others who can manage a multitude of issues and excel. He told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah the CPP had emerged from Saturday’s congress more united than it ever did from any congress. For him, with the support of all members, the CPP, led by Samia and the other national officers, would do well regardless of whether Samia retains or relinquishes her seat. Samia Nkrumah beat incumbent chairman, Lardy Nylander who polled 353 votes, one-time chairman, Professor Edmund Delle who also polled 332 and Madam Araba Bentsi-Enchil who got only ten votes. Mr. Jonah maintained that, even though Samia’s victory is symbolic given her father’s influence in the party, her success would largely depend on how she manages expectations and also bring all on board. Meanwhile, Nkrumahist Movement, the Sankofa Convention People’s Movement has in an official statement congratulated the new chairperson and the party’s delegates for a successful congress. The group is also urging the new executives to form a strategic alliance with Professor Mills and the NDC towards rejuvenating the CPP.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:  
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.