The New Patriotic Party in the upper east region has accused the Mahama led administration of consistently neglecting the upper east region asserting that “nothing” has been done in the region hence breaking a social contract with people in the region.
Speaking at a press conference in Bolgatanga, Thursday, to water down President John Dramani Mahama’s visit to the region, upper east regional chairman of the NPP Murtala Mohammed said “It is pretty obvious from the foregoing that President Mahama and his NDC government have broken their social contract with the good people of the region which was “consummated” in the run-up to the 2012 general elections. The people of the Upper East Region do not only feel short-changed and disappointed, but also harbour general feeling of betrayal by their own.”
President John Dramani Mahama took his ‘accounting to the people tour’ to the upper east region on July 11 and 12 to cut sod for the construction of the 111 kilometers Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polimakom road and the construction of an irrigation dam in the Garu district among others.
This move according to the New Patriotic Party is a cover up for the failure of the President to fix the much talked about road upon a promise that was made in 2014. The party maintained that it has been vindicated by its stance that there was nothing to account for because the Mahama led administration has not done anything to develop the upper east region.
“Indeed, when the president eventually came to the region this week, on July 11 and 12, his tour in the region has VINDICATED our position that his government has very little or nothing at all to account for as far as the upper east region is concerned. As evidenced by his visit, we the people of upper east region haven’t seen any major project under the 7 and half year rule of the NDC government. This development, we find very unfortunate and irreconcilable; considering the fact that this was the very region, where he stood and campaigned that we should vote for him in the run-up to the 2012 polls because he was one of us (northerner) and was therefore better positioned to prioritize our developmental needs,” the statement said.
It added “Aside the issue of the Bolga-Bawku road, mention can also be made of the fact that the president only came to the region to do sod-cutting ahead of the November 7 elections so he could win votes from the people having neglected them in the NDC’s 7 and half year rule. The president, for instance, cut sod for the construction of the Tamme Dam in the Garu- Tempane District, the president cut sod for the construction of the chuchuliga-Wiese road in Builsa North District even though he had indicated in his last state of the nation’s address that this particular road was nearing completion. He of course cut sod for the construction of the Bolga-Bawku road among several others.”
The statement further described the President’s visit as an embarrassment following a widespread despondency and low euphoria as compared to previous visits of the President to the region saying “It is also instructive to note that the president was embarrassed by some students at the second cycle and training institutions in the region when he attempted to address them at Bawku. They basically hooted at him to register their OUTRAGE at some of his actions and inactions deemed counterproductive. Whereas the SHS students were heard shouting for their feeding grants which has not been paid for the past one year, the trainees were also making a strong case for the reinstatement of their allowance. It is regrettable to observe that the NDC government could not complete even a single one of the so called 200 day SHS in the upper east region.”
The party charged the President to disclose the cost of construction of the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polimakom road.
Find below the full statement
WE HAVE BEEN VINDICATED BY THE PRESIDENT’S SO CALLED “ACCOUNTING TO THE PEOPLE’S TOUR” IN THE REGION
It would be recalled that on the 10th of June, 2016, the upper east regional secretariat of the NPP organized a press conference with the caption, “PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA SWERVES THE UPPER EAST REGION IN HIS SO CALLED “ACCOUNTING TO THE PEOPLE’S TOUR” IN ORDER TO AVOID EMBARRASEMENT”. In our statement, westrongly advanced arguments why we felt that the president had to, at the eleventh hour, hurriedly cancelled his planned visit to the region, which was at the time, scheduled for Monday, 6th to the 8th of June as part of his nationwide campaign tour disguised as “accounting to the people’s tour”. We, among other things, indicated that the president had to cancel his trip to the region because he had absolutely nothing to commission in the upper east region if he came; contrary to what we were told had happened during his tour in the other regions he had visited.
Indeed, when the president eventually came to the region this week, on July 11 and 12, his tour in the region has VINDICATED our position that his government has very little or nothing at all to account for as far as the upper east region is concerned. As evidenced by his visit, we the people of upper east region haven’t seen any major project under the 7 and half year rule of the NDC government. This development, we find very unfortunate and irreconcilable; considering the fact that this was the very region, where he stood and campaigned that we should vote for him in the run-up to the 2012 polls because he was one of us (northerner) and was therefore better positioned to prioritize our developmental needs. However, the narrative as far as his government’s performance in the region is concerned has been one broken promise or another. This is in spite of the fact that the region has consistently shown so much commitment to the electoral fortunes of the NDC during general elections. Indeed, out of the 15 parliamentary seats in the region, the NDC alone occupies 13. This, notwithstanding, the region has been completely neglected and starved of the needed development by the very party that has enjoyed so much electoral support and loyalty from our people.
Facts are that, the NDC government has been most disappointing to the good people of this region. Hopelessness, joblessness, starvation, social and economic servitude have been our lot under the Presidency of our brother, John Mahama. It is pretty obvious from the foregoing that President Mahama and his NDC government have broken their social contract with the good people of the region which was “consummated” in the run-up to the 2012 general elections. The people of the Upper East Region do not only feel short-changed and disappointed, but also harbour general feeling of betrayal by their own. We wish to tell President Mahama that this region is not a “voter region”, where he and his NDC party only see our relevance during elections and when they get our votes, they abandon us as if we never mattered. Enough is enough. You cannot fool all of the people all the time.
It is therefore not surprising that the president’s recent visit to the region was greeted by a very poor reception. The reception was so bad that one could hardly notice or feel his presence in the region. It is also noteworthy that per the president’s itinerary which was widely publicised in the region, he was supposed to arrive in the region, specifically, the regional capital on Sunday 10th July before proceeding to Zebilla the following day. However, he never showed up on the said day even though some of his supporters had gathered in Bolgatanga; ostensibly to welcome him. The president swerved everybody and rather came with a helicopter which landed in Zebilla on Monday at 2pm. It is our strong contention that the president’s action was deliberate because he wanted to avoid the harrowing experience of traveling on the Bolga-Bawku road, which also passes through Zebilla having made countless promises to fix that particular road but failed.
This Bolga-Bawku road is undoubtedly, the most important road in the region because it connects the two major commercial cities in the region. President Mahama has consistently promised to fix the road but to no avail. In fact, these were the exact words of President John Mahama in 2014 when he visited Bawku, “I want to promise you that the next time I come to Bawku, the road linking Bolga and Bawku will not be an issue”. However, the road, as we speak, has only moved from bad to worse much to the chagrin of our people. This is one of the reasons why the president has been reluctant in visiting the upper east region and particularly, the Bawku zone.
As you would expect, the president has again, in his recent visit, repeated his usual promise to ensure that the Bolga-Bawku is fixed as soon as practicable when he characteristically, cut-sod for the construction of that road. These were his exact words when he visited the chief’s palace (BawkuNaba), “Even when I’m sleeping, I can recite the Bolga-Bawku road because the BawkuNaba reminded me of the road. This road is very important to the people of upper east region considering the fact that it links 9 constituencies and 6 districts. That is why I’m here today to fulfill my promise. Funding is available and if there is delay in the project, it should be the fault of the contractor and not funding”. We wish to ask the president the following relevant questions:
- If he knew the road was that important to the good people of the upper east region, why did he do NOTHING about it all this while (for over 7 and half years)? Why has he consistently failed to honour his promise to fix the road? What has changed now? Is it because we are heading for another election?
- Again, the president claims that construction works on the road will be completed in 29 months (that is 2 and half years); meaning, the road is expected to be commissioned at the end of 2018. Why would a president who publicly touts the importance of this road to the people tell them to wait for as long as 29 months before it is fixed? How would he reconcile the two contrasting positions?
- Why has the president FAILED to disclose the cost of the project to the Ghanaian taxpayer and how same would be funded?
Aside the issue of the Bolga-Bawku road, mention can also be made of the fact that the president only came to the region to do sod-cutting ahead of the November 7 elections so he could win votes from the people having neglected them in the NDC’s 7 and half year rule. The president, for instance, cut sod for the construction of the Tamme Dam in the Garu- Tempane District, the president cut sod for the construction of the chuchuliga-Wiese road in Builsa North District even though he had indicated in his last state of the nation’s address that this particular road was nearing completion. He of course cut sod for the construction of the Bolga-Bawku road among several others.
It is also instructive to note that the president was embarrassed by some students at the second cycle and training institutions in the region when he attempted to address them at Bawku. They basically hooted at him to register their OUTRAGE at some of his actions and inactions deemed counterproductive. Whereas the SHS students were heard shouting for their feeding grants which has not been paid for the past one year, the trainees were also making a strong case for the reinstatement of their allowance. It is regrettable to observe that the NDC government could not complete even a single one of the so called 200 day SHS in the upper east region. How pathetic!
We again wish to find out from our brother (the president) why he has failed to honour any of his major campaign promises to the good people of the upper east region. Mr. President, where is our new regional hospital? Where is the Bolgatanga sports complex? Where is the Bolga polyclinic? Where is the Zuarungu meat factory? Where is the Bolgatanga airstrip? Where is the Pwalugu tomato factory? Where is the Zebilla market? In fact, the questions are endless …
To conclude, it is overwhelmingly obvious that the NDC government has taken the good people of the upper east region for granted. Our brother, the president has been most disappointing to say the least. We are therefore confident that the people of the upper east region would not entertain the NDC’s populist tactics any longer as we gear up for the November polls. In fact, now, more than ever, the clamour for a REGIME CHANGE in the upper east region is loud and clear. Eight years of NDC is more than enough. Our people need salvation and this, they can only find in the NPP based on our credibility and proven track record for God and country.
Now that we are convinced that President Mahama is not only incompetent but insensitive, we have no choice than to go for the man Nana AddoDanquahAkufoAddo who is ready for the job. Nana is competent, decisive, bold, tried and tested and proven to be sincere and honest.
Equally, Nana has an economic wizard in a person of Alhaji Dr. MahamudBawumya to partner him to manage the economy competently and prudently. We therefore appeal to you to vote massively for Nana AddoDanquah and his parliamentary candidates to form a government in 2017. This is the surest way to bring dignity to the presidency, restore hope in Ghanaians, create jobs for the youth, build a healthy economy and eventually make Ghana to work again.
I am for Nana and I know you are also for Nana and Nana would be for us all.
Thank you.
…..Signed…….
MOHAMMED MURTALA IBRAHIM
REGIONAL CHAIRMAN, UE/R
By: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen | A1RADIOONLINE.com | GHANA
