No need to 'sacrifice' our Upper East MPs; they will do more – NDC tells angry Chief

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region has assured residents of the region that the government and its Members of Parliament (MPs) from the region are working hard to bring more development to the region, stressing that their MPs do not have to lose their seats before the government fulfils its promises to them.

In a statement authored by the NDC Upper East Regional Communication Officer-Elect, Casper Sunday Kampoli, the NDC disagreed with assertions by the Chief of Kotintaabig that some NDC MPs will have to lose their seats before the region’s developmental needs can be attended to, stressing that a lot is being done by way of development while much more is in the pipeline.

The Chief had argued that the region appeared to be lagging behind because it is traditionally a stronghold of the NDC and that non-performing MPs were reluctant to do more for the electorate because they had no fear of losing their seats.

But the NDC has strongly disagreed, asserting that its MPs have proven to be the best, a reason why constituencies that tried MPs from other parties have returned to electing NDC MPs.

“If today, all fifteen constituencies have NDC MPs, it is a testament to the stellar performance of the NDC as a party and when it forms government,” the statement noted.

Read full statement below:
The NDC will definitely do more for the people of the Upper East – A response to the revered Chief of Kotintaabig.

1. In a widely circulated video, the Chief of Kotintaabig, Naab Bileehsong Lanwont Namoog, has taken on the NDC government forcefully, essentially calling on the NDC government to bring more development to the people of the Upper East Region as a way of reciprocating the loyalty of the people to the party.

2. This point of his is clear and spot on; the region, like every other region, needs more development, especially in respect of developmental issues that are peculiar to it.

3. And there is no doubt at all that the NDC government is working hard to ensure that the region gets its fair share of development.

4. The erudite Chief, however, made some assertions that, with respect, are misleading or untrue:

5. He argued that the NDC does not take the people of the region seriously because the region is its stronghold and non-performing NDC Members of Parliament get reelected notwithstanding the poverty of their performance.

6. This claim is not grounded in fact. The electorate of the region definitely make informed choices and the NDC has remained the best choice. Several constituencies have elected non-NDC MPs in the past and have reverted to electing NDC MPs because the NDC always proves itself superior.

7. If today, all fifteen constituencies have NDC MPs, it is a testament to the stellar performance of the NDC as a party and when it forms government. Constituencies such as Bolgatanga Central, Navrongo Central, Bawku Central, Builsa South, Tempane, Chiana-Paga, Binduri and Nabdam have in the past elected non-NDC MPs, with NPP MPs dominating the list of non-NDC MPs. Any suggestion that voters of the Upper East Region are naive or simplistic must be rejected.

8. He also noted that some current NDC MPs need to be “sacrificed” ( lose their seats ) so that development can be accelerated.

9. Respectfully, sir, every NDC MP is hard at work to ensure that his or her constituency gets its equitable share of development. There is no evidence that merely voting for the opposition NPP is a magic wand for development.

10. The people have experienced NPP MPs and have decided that NDC MPs be given the chance.

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11. He added that the people of the Upper East Region cannot blame the NPP for failing to develop the region because it is traditionally a stronghold of the NDC.

12. This claim of His Royal Majesty completely misses the point. A Government in power is a government of and for the whole country. It is not a government for the region or constituencies that voted the party into power. If it were so, the NDC government will have no business constructing the Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region. If it were so, the NPP’s free SHS policy would not have been implemented in the Upper East Region.

13. So the NPP cannot escape accountability for the region’s developmental challenges.

14. Admittedly, the NDC can do more for the region. But below are developmental initiatives, projects, programmes and policies implemented in the region that show that the region has not been neglected:

15. The NDC governments and its predecessor, the PNDC, have been the reason why nearly every nook and cranny of the region is hooked to the national grid. Through the party’s rural electrification policy, the region got electrified.

16. The road infrastructure linking the region to the North East Region, Northern Region, the Savannah Region and down south has largely been the work of NDC governments.

17. The first public university in the region, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences(UTAS), which started as a campus of UDS, was established by the NDC.

18. From 7th January, 2025 till date the Upper East region continues to get its share of the national cake, especially the stability of the economy which has put more disposable income in people’s pockets and boosted businesses

19. From human capital development to educational infrastructure, health infrastructure, youth empowerment, women empowerment and so on.

20. Yes, government can do more for us. And our MPs are lobbying for more for their constituents.

21. Under the NDC government’s Free Primary Healthcare, all 15 MMDAs are part of the 150 pilot districts.

22. All 15 districts are benefiting from the government model 24-hour Economy markets.

23. The youth and women are benefiting from government flagship programmes such the Adwumawura Programme, the one million coders programme, the National Apprenticeship Programme, No fee stress policy and so on.

24. Recently, Government launched the Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion Programme Loan Scheme, TVET Skills, Digital skills Training in the Upper East region. These programmes will provide financing and employable skills for hundreds of youth in the region.

25. Ultimately the NDC is poised to do more and will definitely do it. NDC respects the confidence reposed in them and shall not disappoint them.

Casper S. Kampoli
Regional Communication Officer Elect!
UER.