Youth Root For Ambrose Dery

THE YOUTH of Lawra-Nandom Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called on the flag-bearer of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to consider choosing Mr. Ambrose Dery as a running mate for the December polls.

In a press statement copied to DAILY GUIDE, the youth said the professional manner in which Mr. Dery led the region while he was the regional minister proved that he was capable of contributing a lot to the development of the country.

Besides, the youth believed that he was the best to partner the flag-bearer if the party's aim of breaking into the Zongos was to be achieved, and also described him as somebody who had the interest of the nation at heart and would support the party's cause at all times.

His inclusion, they noted, would enable the party to enjoy the support of voters from the northern sector and further position it for victory in election 2008.

There are speculations that both Nana Akufo-Addo and Prof Mills of the NDC are considering choosing northerners as running mates.

It is believed that the Kufuor-Aliu formula which ensured a two-time victory for the NPP would be maintained, should Nana Addo pick a northerner as his running mate.

Some northerners that it is believed Nana might consider picking include the Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama; Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Alhaji Boniface Abubakari Saddique; Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris; and Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheik I.C. Quaye.

The emergence of Lepowura Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula, a Chief Director with the Ministry of Health had also sparked surprises.

When DAILY GUIDE contacted Mr. Dery on whether he was interested in the slot of a running mate, he declined to make any comments regarding the matter, saying it was the prerogative of the party's flag-bearer and the Council of Elders to nominate a running mate.

According to him, he had already been chosen as parliamentary candidate of the NPP in the Lawra-Nandom Constituency of the Upper West Region and was gearing up towards winning the seat for the party.

He told this paper that a lot of work had already been done to that effect, and that he was sure he would represent his people this time round in Parliament.

However, Mr. Dery registered his readiness to forfeit his parliamentary ambition to help champion the cause of the party if he was called to partner the party's flag-bearer.

Meanwhile, the Upper West Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdul Raman Abbakari, had attributed the sudden growth of the party in the region to the good activities embarked on by Mr. Dery.

He noted that each time Mr. Dery was in the region, he took time to visit all the 10 constituencies to enlighten them on the need to belong to the NPP.

This, according to him, had yielded good results as many people came forward to join the party.

The call by the Lawra youth for Mr. Dery to become Nana's running mate, he explained, was therefore not a surprise to him.

Alhaji Short urged the Minister to keep the good work in keeping the party on track in the region to boost its chances in the December poll, and advised other government appointees from the region to make the growth of the party their priority.