NOYONAA Launches Campaign

The Northern Youth for Nana Akufo-Addo (NOYONAA) has formally launched a campaign to win political power for the New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) presidential candidate in the three Northern regions.

The launch in Tamale was performed on behalf of Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Vice-President, by the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Iddris.

It was on the theme "Redefining the Economy of the North, the Role of the Northern Youth Under President Akufo-Addo".

Alhaji Ali Iddris delivered the keynote address on his own behalf and on behalf of his colleague ministers for the Upper East and Upper West regions.

NOYONAA has therefore mobilised eight motorbikes, two pick-ups and 100 bicycles to embark on a message dissemination drive to explain their policies to the youth of the north in the major northern languages, including Dagbani, Wala, Grushie, Dagari, Kokomba, Gonja using the medium of ongoing radio programmes and house-to-house campaigns.

The policy objectives of NOYONAA are to support Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP to win massively in both the presidential and parliamentary elections come December 2008.

On the platform of the Northern Development Authority, NOYONAA envisages under the presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo that they would mobilise the youth of the North into a "Youth Agric" project and pioneer the establishment of a commodity/grains exchange in the North as a catalyst to economic empowerment of the youth.

NOYONAA would also disseminate the message of peace, unity and dialogue as the cardinal foundation to secure lasting security in the North to bring about its eventual economic development in line with the NPP's vision to bridge the North-South economic divide.

NOYONAA will also catalogue reasons why the people of the North must vote for the NPP.

 NOYONAA described Nana Akufo-Addo as a tried and tested leader who had fought for the masses to enjoy freedom and democracy.

They contend that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is an accomplished technocrat with an infectious sense of leadership and humility and a proud son of the North who deserves their vote.

The establishment of a Northern Development Authority (NDA) as the launching pad to redefine the economic fortunes of the North through policy interventions would also be highlighted.

These would include the rehabilitation of the Tono and Bontanga irrigation projects; identification of viable waterways in the North for additional irrigation projects based on the Burkina Faso model to benefit additional farm families within the first two years of Nana Akufo-Addo's presidency.

They would also promote agro-based credit and equipment for commercial farming in the three Northern regions and promote joint ventures between local commercial farmers and foreign investors in food production.