The decision by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) to invite other parties in Ghana to form an alliance is a step in the right direction, Dr Evans Aggrey-Darko, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has said.
According to him, a merger of these smaller parties will make them a force to reckon with in elections in Ghana.
The party believes a coalition with other entities will enable it oust the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in the 2020 elections.
Party chairman Dr Allotey Brew-Hammond, who announced this at a press conference in Accra, said only the PPP can undertake an agenda in the interest of Ghanaians.
For him, the PPP has what it takes to be the third political force in Ghana.
“The National Committee approved a resolution to work to establish a strong viable alternative political movement in Ghana. After careful consideration, the party wishes to invite like-minded progressive political parties and individuals to discuss and reach agreements to forge an alternative to the NPP and the NDC to contest election 2020 and beyond,” he stated.
He said the party held a strong belief that bringing people together would break the “dominance duopoly of the NDC and the NPP”.
“The party is open to alliance, merger, and any joint action that will enable the winning of parliamentary seats and the presidency,” he added.
Speaking on this development in an interview with Accra News on Tuesday 14 March, Dr Aggrey-Darko said voters in Ghana do not want to waste their votes, therefore, will choose to vote for winning parties.
For this reason, he said if the smaller parties want to attract more votes, they would need to make themselves formidable by merging.
He explained: “Several people do not waste their votes and so they will support winning candidates. That means the smaller parties will need to make themselves attractive enough to win more votes. One way they can do that is through the merger and so the PPP’s call is a step in the right direction.
“The PPP itself broke away from the CPP, but the point is, if you are a member of any group and you believe in the philosophy and principles of that group, you should not quit even though there may be some issues.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
