The Convention People's Party (CPP) yesterday made a resounding statement of its united front and readiness to govern the country, if given the opportunity, with the announcement of a 15-member shadow cabinet. Made up of experienced professionals in their various fields of endeavour, they include Mr Henry Lartey, the son of the late leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and some leading members of the CPP who have not been seen together on a single platform for over two years. The shadow cabinet would hold weekly activities, including press conferences, issuing of statements that will focus on each sector of the government, explaining the basis of CPP's vision and its proposals on credible, achievable, cost-effective and human-centred alternatives for the way forward. Sharing the same high table with the Leader and Chairman of the party, Mr Ladi Nylander were Mr George Aggudey and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, who were the party's presidential candidates for the 2006 and 2008 elections respectively, as well as Dr Kwame Akufo and Mr Bright Akwetey, who also vied to become the party's presidential aspirants. Announcing the cabinet at a press conference which was held on the 101 birthday of the founder of the CPP, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Mr Nylander said the cabinet members were the only accredited mouth piece of the party. A cake was cut as part of the birthday celebration. He said the activities of the cabinet would be translated into various local dialects and would also be explained and debated on various regional radio stations "as a way of bringing the great and compelling messages of the CPP back home". He said the party would not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with anyone who had not been accredited to speak on its behalf and attempted to do that in any part of the country. The members include Mr George Opesika Aggudey, the Interior; Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, Finance and Economic Planning; Mr Henry Lartey, Trade and Industry; Mr Bright Akwetey, Attorney General and Justice. Others are Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, Health, Education, Youth and Sports; Ms Samia Nkrumah, Parliamentary Affairs; Wing Commander Pat Sorgbordjor (rtd), Defence and National Security; Dr Abu Sakara, Agriculture; Mr Eric Benyarko, Environment, Science, Technology and Communications. The rest are Dr Adolf Lutterrodt, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Mr R. O. Frimpong - Manso - Local Government; Mrs Susan Adu Amankwah, Employment and Social Welfare; Mr Felix Amoah, Works, Housing, Water and Roads and Mr Kwarne Jantuah for Energy, Mines, Lands and Forestry. In an interview with the Daily Graphic after the announcement, Mr Akwetey said a CPP government would work with the judiciary to ensure that Ghanaians have confidence and respect for the members of the bench. He said a CPP administration's policy would, make the judiciary have adequate logistics, especially accommodation and other benefits to be able to have their peace of mind to deliver their revered justice to the society. He said a CPP government would also put in place measures for the Attorney General's Office to be acceptably equipped to perform their work effectively for the benefit of the entire nation. Dr Nduom described the shadow cabinet as one of the moves that would mend all the cracks within the leading membership of the party, "because while thinking about the party we would be sharing ideas, leading to closer ties". He said it was significant that the GCPP had a member on the cabinet and expressed the hope that the People's National Convention (PNC), another Nkrumaist party, would also join the cabinet. He said a quality performance from the cabinet, especially if it is able to present the nation with better policy alternatives would make Ghanaians appreciate the high calibre of members of the party and afford the party the opportunity of implementing such polices as a government. Mr Aggudey noted that it was high time the country embarked on an integrated security system coupled with productiveness to nib in the bud the activities of armed robbers and other miscreants in society. Source: Daily Graphic