George Opesika Aggudey, Presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party in the last general election, says it is welcome news that Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa wants to be the presidential candidate of the party for election 2008.

The Presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the 2004 general election, has described as welcome news the decision of Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, to stake a claim for the party’s presidential slot.

Mr George Opesika Aggudey said “I have accepted the challenge of Prof. Akosa to contest me and others who are yet to declare their ambitions to vie for the party’s flag bearer position. This is refreshing and welcome news which augurs well for internal-party democracy in the CPP,” he said.

Reacting to the announcement by, the former Director General of the Ghana Health Service to vie for the position of presidential candidate of the CPP for the 2008 election, Mr Aggudey declared “ I am already leading the pack of candidates who want to bear the flag of the CPP in the 2008 polls,”.

According to him, it was his wish and prayer that more personalities would join the fray to decide who becomes the party’s flagbearer for the 2008 polls.

“The decision of persons who profess to be Nkrumahist to join the race also amply demonstrates that the CPP has become attractive and also has the brightest chance of wresting political power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), he said.

He said the doors of the party were opened to those desirous of contesting positions in the party and was happy to note that delegates were aware of personalities who had contributed to enhance the fortunes of the party over the past decade as well as those whose activities had seriously undermined its efforts.

Mr Aggudey said the litmus test for aspirants to positions in the CPP would be loyalty and commitment to the ideals of the party, and one’s financial contributions to its development.

He said the party’s leading functionaries and members were also aware of those who “ ate in the kitchen of the ruling government and defended their positions“, stressing that all these factors would go a long way to decide who becomes the presidential candidate or national executive.

The 2004 CPP flag bearer further explained that the party members were also aware of those who campaigned either clandestinely or openly against the party’s presidential candidate in the last elections and were patiently waiting to hear whether such personalities would vie for positions in the CPP.

“The lessons of the 2004 polls are still very fresh in the minds of party members across the country. They have not forgotten those who indulged in vile campaigns against the party’s elected presidential candidate,” Mr Aggudey said.

Mr Aggudey reiterated that his commitment towards the development of the party remained resolute, stressing that “as of now I have single-handedly rented about 200 offices for the CPP throughout the country.

Graphic Online     8/21/2007