General News of Friday, 20 February 2015
Source: Graphic Online
President of the Union of Mamprusis in Accra, Mr Faruk Mutachilu, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to appoint a minister from the Mamprugu area to counter the inroads being made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) there.
He said for the fact that the running mate of the 2016 presidential candidate of NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, hails from the Mamprugu area, people were flocking to join the NPP.
Mr Mutachilu, who is also a member of the communication team of the NDC, said traditionally, the NDC controlled the five seats in the Mamprugu area but with the advent of Dr Bawumia as the running mate of Nana Akufo Addo in 2008 and still his running mate, the electoral fortunes of the NDC had suffered a setback.
He said, for example, that the Walewale, Bungkpurugu and Yagba/Kubore constituencies had been snatched by the NPP and if care was not taken, the remaining two, namely Yonyoo and Gambaga constituencies, would follow.
He said there was, therefore, the need to counter the political activities of the running mate of the NPP flag bearer, who is turning the traditional National Democratic Congress (NDC) stronghold gradually into an NPP one.
Mr Mutachilu, however, said the appointment of a minister from the area, especially from Nalerigu, which has the largest concentration of votes in the area, would help to restore the fortunes of the NDC in the 2016 elections.
He said care should be taken to preserve the fortunes of the NDC in the Mamprusi area.
He said apart from the appointment of a minister from the area, which the residents feel is long overdue because of the perception that the area is being discriminated against, the government could undertake projects in the area to create job avenues for the youth.
Mr Mutachilu, therefore, commended the government for the construction of the 100-kilometre Walewale-Nalerigu trunk road.
He stressed that the road project, when completed, would help boost economic activities in the area since it was linked to the main Tamale-Bolgatanga trunk road.
Miss Mary Wundow, Secretary to the union, commended the government for upgrading the Gambaga College of Education and the Nalerigu Nurses and Midwifery Training School to offer quality service to the nation.