Upper East chiefs give Dr. Bawumia warm reception

THE CHIEFS in the Upper East Region have warmly received the Presidential running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as son of the area. This was when the NPP running mate paid courtesy calls on the chiefs during his four-day campaign tour of the region. The Chiefs received him nicely and declared that his selection to partner Nana Addo in the December polls came as good news to them.

On his arrival in the region last Saturday, the first point of call of the former second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana was at the Bolgatanga Naba's palace, where Martin Adongo Abilba III warmly received him.

Before addressing a rally organized in Bolgatanga in his honour, Dr. Bawumia joined the chiefs and people of Zuarungu to celebrate their annual Ndaakoya festival. The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama was the special Guest of Honour at the ceremony.

From community to community, and from constituency to constituency that the running-mate visited, the chiefs did not only give him their blessings but also asked for protection from their ancestors to lead Dr. Bawumia in all his endeavours and as well, urged their people to rally behind him.

One of such chiefs was the paramount chief of the Sakote traditional area, Naba Sigri Bewong, who recounted the good deeds of Dr. Bawumia's father, and urged him to build upon his legacy when he becomes the next Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana.

Responding to the pleas of the chiefs which included water, health facilities, electricity, and good roads, Dr. Bawumia assured them that the Nana Addo led government would ensure that every community has access to these amenities.

According to him, this year's election was about the future of the country, stating that Ghana 's democracy has to be entrenched with well paid jobs, freedom of speech, quality education and health.

Dr. Bawumia reiterated the next NPP government's commitment to modernize agriculture in the three regions of the North by providing dams for livestock rearing and dry season farming, and the provision of shea nut Marketing Board that would manage shea nut production in these regions.

His visit took him to Builsa North and South constituencies, Navrongo Central, Paga/Chiana, Bongo, Nabdam and Talensi constituencies of the Upper East region as well as Yagaba-Kubouri in the Northern region.

Supporters of NPP came out in large numbers and party colours amidst drumming and dancing, which gave the running-mate course to be energized to run his campaign deep into the night.

Dr. Bawumia's campaign team was made up of the National Campaign Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, John Boadu, National Youth Organizer, Yoofi Grant of Data Bank and a host of National and Regional party executives including the Upper East Regional Minister, Alhassan Samari, who is also the parliamentary candidate for the Garu-Tempane constituency.

They also visited the Tertiary Confederation Network (TESCON) of St. John's Bosco Teacher Training College and the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, where the students were advised to stay away from violence when they go out to cast their votes on election day.