The Upper East Regional Communication Officer-elect of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Casper Sunday Kampoli, has rejected suggestions that the party takes the region’s support for granted, insisting that the government is committed to accelerating development across the region.
His response follows a widely circulated video in which the Chief of Kotintaabig, Naab Bileehsong Lanwont Namoog, criticised the pace of development in the Upper East Region and called on the NDC government to do more in return for the region’s continued support.
The Chief reportedly argued that the NDC’s dominance in the region has weakened the pressure on its Members of Parliament to deliver, suggesting that some of the party’s MPs may have to lose their seats before development receives greater attention.
But Mr Kampoli, in a response, disagreed with the Chief’s assessment, arguing that voters in the region make informed political choices and that several constituencies have previously elected opposition MPs before returning to the NDC.
He cited Bolgatanga Central, Navrongo Central, Bawku Central, Builsa South, Tempane, Chiana-Paga, Binduri and Nabdam as constituencies that have, at different times, elected non-NDC MPs.
He maintained that the election of NDC MPs across all 15 constituencies should not be interpreted as evidence that voters are indifferent to performance or development.
Mr Kampoli also rejected the suggestion that some NDC MPs should be sacrificed to accelerate development, insisting that the party’s lawmakers are lobbying for projects and interventions for their respective constituencies.
“There is no evidence that merely voting for the opposition NPP is a magic wand to development,” he argued.
NPP cannot escape accountability
The NDC communicator-elect also challenged the Chief’s assertion that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could not be held responsible for the region’s developmental challenges because the Upper East has traditionally been an NDC stronghold.
He argued that governments are elected to serve the entire country, irrespective of how individual regions or constituencies vote.
Using the Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region as an example, he questioned why a government should be expected to restrict development to areas that voted for the governing party.
He further pointed to the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy in the Upper East Region under the previous NPP administration as evidence that governments have responsibilities beyond their electoral strongholds.
Mr Kampoli said the NDC and its predecessor, the PNDC, had contributed to the region’s development through rural electrification, road infrastructure and the establishment of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, which began as a campus of the University for Development Studies.
He also cited ongoing government programmes in healthcare, education, skills development and youth empowerment as evidence that the region was benefiting from national interventions.
Cites Free Primary Healthcare, 24-hour economy markets
Among the initiatives highlighted by Mr Kampoli is the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, which he said covers all 15 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Upper East Region.
He also cited the proposed 24-hour economy model markets, saying all 15 assemblies were benefiting from the government’s plans.
Mr Kampoli further mentioned the Adwumawura Programme, National Apprenticeship Programme, One Million Coders initiative and the No Fee Stress policy as interventions expected to expand opportunities for young people.
He said the recent launch of the Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion Programme Loan Scheme, alongside technical and vocational education and digital skills training, would provide financing and employable skills for young people in the region.
The NDC communicator-elect acknowledged that the government could do more, but maintained that the party was committed to meeting the development expectations of the people.
He assured residents that the government and the region’s 15 MPs would continue to push for more projects and programmes.
“The NDC is poised to do more and will definitely do it. The NDC respects the confidence reposed in them and shall not disappoint them,” he said.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Bolgatanga
