National Convention Party (Ghana)

The National Convention Party (NCP) is a political party in Ghana that existed between 1992 and January 1996.

National Convention Party
AbbreviationNCP
LeaderKow Nkensen Arkaah
Founded1992
Merged intoConvention People's Party with People's Convention Party
IdeologyNkrumaism
Progressivism

Formation and Progressive Alliance

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The party was formed in 1992 after the ban on political parties was lifted by the military Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government. Its first leader was Kow Nkensen Arkaah. Kojo Tsikata is reported to have been instrumental in getting the Kwame Nkrumah Youngsters Club and the Kwame Nkrumah Welfare Society to merge to form the National Convention Party. He was the patron of both clubs. He was also instrumental along with P. V. Obeng and Ebo Tawiah in forming the electoral alliance between the NCP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).[1]

Electoral performance

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1992 elections

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The NCP contested the 1992 presidential election in an alliance with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by Jerry Rawlings and Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) led by Owuraku Amofa. The alliance put forward a single candidate for president, Jerry Rawlings and a single vice president candidate, Ekow Arkaah on November 3, 1992. They won 58.4% of the popular vote[2] and became the first President and Vice President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.

In the 29 December 1992 Parliamentary election, the NCP won 8 out of 200 constituencies, becoming the second largest party in parliament.[3]

Parliamentary elections

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Election Number of NCP votes Share of votes Seats +/- Position Outcome of election
1996[4] 65,540 0.9% 0   8 5th of 8
1992[5] 377,673 19.2% 8 2nd of 3 Formed majority government alliance

Presidential elections

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Election Candidate Number of votes Share of votes Outcome of election
1992[5] Jerry Rawlings
(Progressive Alliance)*
2,323,135 58.4% Elected  Y

Merger

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The "Nkrumahist" parties decided to merge before contesting the 1996 elections. The People's Convention Party (PCP) and the NCP then announced the formation of the Convention People's Party on 29 January 1996.[6] This signaled the end of the NCP as a standalone party.

Notes

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  1. ^ "Kojo Tsikata masterminded JJ's transition from Chairman to President – Allotey speaks". GhanaWeb. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Elections in Ghana:3 November 1992 Presidential Election". Africa Elections Database. Albert C. Nunley. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
  3. ^ "Elections in Ghana:29 December 1992 Parliamentary Election". Africa Elections Database. Albert C. Nunley. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
  4. ^ "Election Passport - Ghana". Election Passport. American University. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Elections in Ghana". African Elections Database. Albert C. Nunley. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Arkaah says he can work with Rawlings despite". General News of Thursday, 1 February 1996. Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 17 April 2007.