The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says he is disappointed in the people of the Upper East Region for voting massively against him and his Party in the 2020 general elections.
He said this when he paid a courtesy call on the paramount chief of the Kusaug traditional area, Zug-raan, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, at his palace in Bawku on Monday, June 21, 2021 as part of his one day working visit to the region.
His Excellency the president, wondered why the people of the region voted massively for the opposition National Democratic Congress despite the superior record the NPP party has exhibited over the NDC party in terms of development.
“As you spoke to me frankly, I have to speak to you frankly as well,I have to say that I was very disappointed with the results of the election in the Upper East Region, especially when you consider the work that we have done in this Region. Whatever the case, at least we have one seat and that is the MP for Bimduri. I have to thank you for that.”- The President vehemently stated.
In the 2020 general election, out of the 15 Constituencies in the Upper East Region, the President’s party, the New Patriotic party managed to capture only the Binduri parliamentary seat and the presidential results saw John Mahama of the NDC beating President Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP with 63.29 percent of the votes against 34.44 percent in the region, even though the President won nationally with 51.2 percent.
The President however thanked the people of the region on another breath, for giving his party one parliamentary seat (Binduri) out of the fifteen parliamentary seats.
“I came also to thank you and the people of the Upper East for your support of me and my party during the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.”
The Bawku Naba made some demands.
The Zug-raan requested for the construction of district hospitals in districts without hospitals,like Binduri, Pusiga, Bawku Garu and Tempane.
He requested for the “splitting of the Bawku West District and constituency into two districts. The Zugu-Raan also reiterated the need for a the Kusaug Region in future.
“We see the need for Bawku Central constituency to be split into two for it’s huge population, leading to the creation of a new region in the not- too- distant future for the eastern corner of the Upper East Region. We qualify for a region in most respect by population, resources and infrastructure.”
Bolga-Bawku- Polmakom road
In response to a request by Bawku Nana’s for the speady completion of the Bolga-Bawku- Polmakom road and the construction of a bypass in Bawku as part of the project, the president gave a positive assurance.
“Bawku Naba, the NDC never did that road. I have come and I have done the road for you. I know how dear the road is to your heart, and that is why I have said to you that in my time I will complete that road. I am almost there. In the same way the Bawku principal road, as well as the bypass for the Bawku highway are also going to start very soon because I hear that the consultant has begun the stakeholder engagement which should end very soon. That will pave the way. I want everybody to cooperate with the work that is going to be done to enable these developments to take place”- The President Assured.
President President Nana Addo pledged to continue to extend development to every part of the country of which the Upper East is not an exception .“Just as the extension of electricity is part of the measures that are being unfolded, which you will also be included in”. He said.
He touted some of his government major programs such as the Free Senior High School, Planting for Food and Jobs, One Village-One-Dam, One-District-One Warehouse and One- District-One-Factory.
On the issue of the setting up of factories under government’s flagship project know us, “One-District-One-Factory” he promised the people of Bawku of a meat processing factory.
“In the same way under the 1-District-1-Factory policy, very soon we are going to establish a guinea fowl processing factory here in Bawku.”- He added.
From the Zug-raan’s Palace the President moved to Binduri where he paid homage to the Binduri Naba.
The President seems to be happy with Binduri for the out come of the election in that constituency and so has appointment a former member of Parliament Hon. Stephen Yakubu, Hon. Abdulai Abanga as Upper East Regional Minister and Deputy Minister Designate for Works and Housing respectfully.
They the two are the only three Ministrial nominations/appointments the Region has received in the second term of his government.
He ended his tour of the region at the Bolgatanga East District, where he commissioned a newly constructed Bolgatanga East District Assembly Office Complex.
At Bolgatanga East constituency/district the Nana Addo however failed to visit the paramount Chief of the Zuarungu traditional area ,the people did not even have the opportunity to speak to him neither did he address them.
The delegation of the President included current and former ministers of state and other government appointees.
Wisdom Adekurah/mywordfmonline.com