Presidential aspirant Marricke Kofi Gane has left the Coalition of Independent Political Aspirants (CIPA) to run an individual campaign.

Mr Gane arrived at the decision following what he describes as a flawed process which led to the selection of Kofi Koranteng as the lead candidate going into the December polls.

He alleged that the coalition has sidestepped an earlier criteria of which he met, to rip him off his deserved position as CIPA’s lead candidate on the back of the IMANI-JoyNews Minority Parties and Independent Candidate Debate on Friday.

In a statement signed on August 16, the aspirant explained that the coalition’s steering committee had agreed that a leader would emerge “It was agreed that a leader would emerge based on the outcome of the debate and related polls to be run by IMANI and Joy.”

This was after an earlier five-point criteria put forward by IPAs was set aside.

“The final polls below, show the results from IMANI (1 poll) and JOY, who broadcasted the debate on their TV and Radio channels, both of which had a poll each on Twitter and Facebook (4 polls). The Gane4Ghana Team won on 3 polls out of 4.”

However, CIPA agreed at an executive meeting on Saturday that the said IMANI poll would no more be accepted over “its inherent potential to allow multiple votes.”

“The Steering Committee, for unexplained reasons, elected to consider only the Joy News poll, neglecting the Joy News poll on Twitter and the Joy997FM polls on both Twitter and Facebook,” he explained.

“In a further twist,  contrary to previously agreed criteria, the Steering Committee proceeded to ask each of the IPAs present to vote between which of the two aspirants - Kofi Koranteng or Marricke Kofi Gane they preferred to lead CIPA. The result is as follows: Mr C. Morgan - Voted Mr. Kofi Koranteng; Mr K. Koranteng - Voted Mr. Kofi Koranteng; Mr O. Teye – Abstained; Mr O. Ampofo - Absent (Bereaved); Mr M. Gane – Abstained (with reasons of flawed replacement process).”

Marricke Gane believes the lack of integrity and transparency in the process leading to the development is enough grounds for him to withdraw his membership and forge ahead on a solo front.

“What this means, is that we will continue to go forward as we have always done, as the credible Ghanaian Agenda and Gane4Ghana campaign. We are simply no more under the CIPA umbrella.”

Read the full statement below.

PRESS RELEASE
16th August 2020
Accra, Ghana
For Immediate Release

GANE-4-GHANA EXITS CIPA COALITION

Comrades, Ghanaians, sisters and brothers,

Many of you have supported the Gane4Ghana agenda at various times from March 2019 until now. You are real Patriots and we take the opportunity to thank you for everything.

When this journey started, we made one commitment to you all - that we'll always put Ghana first before anything else. Today, in that same spirit, we wish to announce to you all, that the Gane4Ghana agenda (and campaign) is no more a part of what has become known and called the Coalition of Independent Political Aspirants, CIPA. Our reasons are stated below:

1. A week to the IMANI-JOY Independent Presidential Aspirants' debate, two criteria were agreed upon between the Aspirants and the Coalition's Steering Committee.
2. It was agreed that a leader would emerge based on the outcome of debate and related polls to be run by IMANI and Joy. This was after an earlier five point criteria put forward by IPAs was set aside. This earlier criteria were (a) Debate Results (b) Social Media Presence (c) On-the-Ground Strength (d) Manifesto Rating and (e) Campaign Financing machinery.
3. It was also agreed among all the five Independent Candidates before the debate, that whoever emerged leader will have the free hand, to choose their Vice, with advisory input from all other candidates.
4. The final polls below, show the results from IMANI (1 poll) and JOY, who broadcasted the debate on their TV and Radio channels, both of which had a poll each on Twitter and Facebook (4 polls). The Gane4Ghana Team won on 3 polls out of 4.

At a CIPA executive meeting held on Saturday 15th August 2020, it was asserted the IMANI polls will NOT be accepted due to its inherent potential to allow multiple votes. The Steering Committee, for unexplained reasons, elected to consider only the Joy News poll, neglecting the Joy News poll on Twitter and the Joy997FM polls on both Twitter and Facebook.

In a further twist, contrary to previously agreed criteria, the Steering Committee proceeded to ask each of the IPAs present to vote between which of the 2 aspirants - Kofi Koranteng or Marricke Kofi Gane they preferred to lead CIPA. The result is as follows:
• Mr C. Morgan - Voted Mr. Kofi Koranteng
• Mr K. Koranteng - Voted Mr. Kofi Koranteng
• Mr O. Teye - Abstained
• Mr O. Ampofo - Absent (Bereaved)
• Mr M. Gane – Abstained (with reasons of flawed replacement process)

On these 2 flawed basis, the Steering Committee announced Mr Kofi Koranteng as Leader of the Coalition.

Gane4Ghana believes that the adopted process was neither fair nor transparent. Despite the murky nature by which the final result was determined, we have wished CIPA and their Lead Candidate well for the race ahead.

Regrettably, we cannot find any integrity or transparency in a process or body that willingly sets aside agreed criteria and voting results that the good people of Ghana have taken their time and efforts to invest in. We have always as an alternative, promised Ghanaians FEARLESS HONESTY and here again, we stand to defend it.

What this means, is that we will continue to go forward as we have always done, as the credible Ghanaian Agenda and Gane4Ghana campaign. We are simply no more under the CIPA umbrella.

We know a lot will be said going forward. We wish to assure Ghanaians, that we are focused on forging ahead with our agenda to build a Ghana that works for ALL of us, not just a few.