CPP Constitution
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CONVENTION PEOPLE’S PARTY - CPP CONSTITUTION OF THE CONVENTION PEOPLE’S PARTY Constitution As Amended 12th May 2012 National Secretariat 6/17/2012 This document is a living document and provides the broad guidelines for organizing and managing affairs of the Convention People’s Party. The Central Committee shall provide clarity and detail to these broad guidelines with a Standing Order. Contents PREAMBLE ............................................................................................................................................. 3 PART ONE ............................................................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 1 - THE PARTY .................................................................................................................... 5 PART TWO .............................................................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 2 - STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION ......................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 3 - MEMBERSHIP ................................................................................................................ 7 CHAPTER 4 - THE POLLING STATION AREA BRANCH OF THE PARTY ................................. 11 CHAPTER 5 - THE ELECTORAL AREA BRANCH OF THE PARTY ............................................. 14 CHAPTER 6 - THE CONSTITUENCY BRANCH OF THE PARTY .................................................. 18 CHAPTER 7 - REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE PARTY ..................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 8 - NATIONAL ORGANISATION .................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER 9 - INTEGRAL WINGS ...................................................................................................... 38 PART THREE ........................................................................................................................................ 41 CHAPTER 10 - NATIONAL PARTY LEADERSHIP.......................................................................... 41 PART FOUR .......................................................................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 11 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS ........................................................................................ 49 CHAPTER 12 - PARTY DISCIPLINE ................................................................................................. 51 CHAPTER 13 - MEETINGS ................................................................................................................. 54 CHAPTER 14 - DECLARATION OF INTERESTS ............................................................................. 54 CHAPTER 15 - HONOURS AND OTHER AWARDS ........................................................................ 54 CHAPTER 16 - MISCELLANEOUS .................................................................................................... 55 CHAPTER 17 - PARTY OATHS .......................................................................................................... 56 CHAPTER 18 - AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION .............................................................. 57 2 PREAMBLE WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION PEOPLE’S PARTY (CPP) ASSEMBLED AT THE ESSIPON STADIUM FOR THE NATIONAL DELEGATES CONGRESS, RECALLING that the democratically elected Government of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) under our illustrious Leader, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was overthrown through a coup d’état on 24th February, 1966 and the CPP was subsequently proscribed, and that again, on 31st December, 1981, the democratically elected Government of People’s National Party (PNP), a successor party of the Convention People’s Party, was also overthrown through a coup d’état and the PNP was also subsequently proscribed; That the name Convention People’s Party (CPP) was restored in 2000, CONSCIOUS that this Party is committed to the pursuit of the teachings, ideas, philosophy and vision of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and to build a strong, disciplined and dynamic political party for national reconstruction and development, the pursuit of egalitarianism and eradication of poverty, elitism, inequality, corruption and other social injustices from the Ghanaian society. DETERMINED To ensure that Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s “vision of a Ghana socially stable and united, politically independent and economically free and prosperous” is kept alive and followed to its full realization; COMMITTED 3 to uphold and adhere to Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s precept that: “Now that we have achieved our political freedom, we must consolidate our independence by building a solid foundation that will establish in Ghana the highest standards of honesty and integrity both in our public and private lives”, and RESOLVED to achieve these and other Nkrumaist objectives, our Nkrumaist parties, having well and truly regrouped and signed a UNITY ACCORD dated 16th October 1997 to constitute one formidable and invincible Nkrumaist Party in affirmation and fulfillment of the desire to be united; DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY PROCLAIM, ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES, OUR PARTY AND ALL ITS MEMBERS THIS CONSTITUTION ON ……………………... THE ……………………... DAY OF ……………………... IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ……………………... 4 PART ONE CHAPTER 1 - THE PARTY 1. NAME The Party shall be known and called the CONVENTION PEOPLE’S PARTY (CPP), hereinafter referred to as the Party. 2. IDENTIFICATION a) The Party’s symbol shall be a RED COCKEREL ON A WHITE BACKGROUND. b) The colours of the Party flag shall be horizontal, from the top: Red, White and Green with a Red Cockerel at the centre of the white. c) The Party motto shall be: FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER. 3. IDEOLOGY The ideology of the Party shall be and remain “Nkrumaism” based on scientific socialism. 4. HEADQUARTERS The Party shall have its Headquarters and National Secretariat in Accra or such other places as may be determined by the Central Committee or by any national law. 5. LEGAL STATUS The Party is a corporate entity registered under the laws of Ghana, and in accordance with the Constitution of Ghana, and shall have perpetual succession and may sue and be sued as a corporate body. 6. FOUNDING MEMBERS The original founding members are those who founded the CPP with Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on 12th June, 1949. The second generation of founding members are those whose 5 names and addresses are kept at the Party Headquarters and registered with the Electoral Commission in accordance with Section 9(d) of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574). 7. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The principal aims and objectives of the Party shall be: a) to consolidate, deepen and maintain the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Ghana; b) to safeguard and defend the Constitution of Ghana against its overthrow or abuse; c) to take all necessary steps to ensure the political, economic and social progress and stability of Ghana and promote national reconciliation and unity; d) To offer Ghanaians a Government based on Nkrumaist principles. e) to protect and enhance Ghanaian culture, heritage and institutions; f) to work relentlessly for political and economic unity of Africa and co-operate with intra- African institutions and agencies towards the realization of this goal; g) to pursue the goal of world peace, justice and security, and struggle for a new and equitable world political, social and economic order through the United Nations, African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Commonwealth and other international organs; and h) To co-operate with other political parties and movements, which commit themselves to similar ideals, including the elimination of all forms of discrimination? 8. SUPREMACY OF THE PARTY’S CONSTITUTION Subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, and any laws for the time being in force in the Republic, the provisions of this Constitution shall take precedence over and above any and all other rules and regulations of the Party. PART TWO CHAPTER 2 - STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION 6 9. PRINCIPAL ORGANS The organs of the Party shall be: a) Polling Station Branch: There shall be in every polling station a local branch of the Party which shall be constituted by all the members of the Party in that polling station area. The Polling Station Area Branch shall be the basic organ of the Party. Every polling station area branch shall be presented with a Charter which shall entitle it to use and display the Party’s flag and symbol. b) Electoral Area Branch: The Electoral Area Branch shall be composed of all polling station area branches in that particular electoral area. c) Constituency Branch: A Constituency Branch shall be constituted by the local Electoral Area branches within the constituency. d) Regional Branch: The Regional Branch shall be constituted by all Constituency branches in the Region. e) National Organs: The Party at the National level shall comprise: 1. The Council of elders 2. The Central Committee 3. The National Executive Council 4. The National Delegates Congress CHAPTER 3 - MEMBERSHIP 10. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP a) Membership of the Party shall be open to any citizen of Ghana who is eighteen years of age and above, and who accepts the aims and objectives of the Party, provided that such a person is not a member of any other political party or any organization whose policies are inconsistent