Liberia: CPP Kicks Off Two-Day Convention in Nimba
The Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) will begin its two-day national convention today, May 12, 2023, in Ganta, Nimba County. The convention is aimed at establishing a clear roadmap, including the selection of its official standard bearer for the October 10 Legislative and Presidential elections.
Five hundred delegates are expected to attend the convention, which is scheduled to take place at the Gbarpolu County Sports Stadium. The two-day gathering will see delegates deliberate and decide on the forward march of the political alliance that comprises the Alternative National Congress (ANC) of Alexander Benedict Cummings, and the Liberty Party headed by embattled chairman, Musa Hassan Bility.
The convention is the CPP’s first since its formation in 2022. The original founding members of the collaboration were former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the Unity Party, the late Charles Walker Brumskine then of the Liberty Party (and was succeeded by Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence), Benoni Urey of the All Liberian Party (ALP), and ANC of Cummings. All but the ANC political leader and a faction of the LP left the collaboration due to internal disagreements.
The CPP along with other political affiliates and interest groups has as its current Standard Bearer, Mr. Alexander B. Cummings.
The 2023 Convention will be held under the theme ‘Real Change is coming; Time to Fix our Country Together’.
Counsellor Aloysius Toe and Madam Ruggie Barry are the co-chairs of the CPP National Convention 2023 in Nimba.
CPP’s release notes that the National Elections Commission (NEC), members of the Diplomatic Corps, fellow opposition political parties, and the ruling party, as well as the media and other prominent Liberians have been invited to observe the convention.
About Alexander B. Cummings
Alexander B. Cummings is a 66-year-old Liberian businessman and politician who is the current Standard Bearer of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP). Cummings has over 40 years of working experience as an international businessman. He worked with Pillsbury Company and moved to Coca Cola Company, where he served as Regional Manager for Coca Cola in Nigeria and later as Manager of Coca Cola Africa, culminating his career as Chief Administrative Officer for Coca Cola Global.
He was conferred a national distinction by former President, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for his great humanitarian work in Liberia and support to various institutions. He also founded the Cummings Africa Foundation, which provides scholarships and educational assistance to hundreds of needy Liberian students.
The Cummings Africa Foundation (CAF) since its establishment has also implemented more than 22 quick impact projects with 25 implementing partners, which benefited over 30,000 Liberians.
He is an alumnus of the College of West Africa (CWA). He attended Cuttington University College, and worked with the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI).
With a Master’s degree in Business and Finance from Clark University in Atlanta, Georgia, Cummings said he wants to bring his decades of business expertise and passion to help improve the lives of Liberians as President, through “massive economic development programs that will get Liberians back to work.”
At the height of the Ebola crisis, Mr. Cummings is said to have led a high-level delegation of Coca Cola Executives to Liberia and contributed US$1 million, distributed relief items, and paid WAEC fees and tutorial support for 2,322 students from 21 schools nationwide.
Cummings is a family man, married over 40 years to Madam Treasa with two children and five grandchildren.
He is expected to name his running mate as the October 10 Polls are drawing much closer.