55 NDC youth defect to NPP

Dr. Kwabena Adjei, NDC National Chairman

FIFTY-FIVE youth of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nabdam constituency in the Upper East Region have defected to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). The defectors claimed that since their Member of Parliament, Mr. Moses Asaga was voted as MP for the area in 1996, they have not seen any tangible development.

The leader of the group, Mr. Solomon Ditamina, speaking on behalf of his colleagues at the NPP constituency office at Nangodi, on Monday, said the leaders of the party in the constituency do not listen to their views.

Lack of development, no extension of electricity since 1998, no public place of convenience, lack of a Community Centre for social gatherings, lack of teachers' quarters were all mentioned as some of the causes that compelled them to defect.

According to Mr. Ditamina, the lack of accommodation for teachers has compelled them to roam the community in search of rooms to rent, whenever they areposted to the area.

The group leader also said the MP has not given them any assistance in their small scale mining activities, even though they had made an appeal to him. When asked why they were defecting to the NPP and not to any other party, the youth said the were happy with the free, fair and peaceful constituency elections that selected Nana Addo as the NPP flag bearer, and they wanted to espouse the  ideologies, policies and programmes of the NPP.

Welcoming the new converts into their fold, the chairman of the Council of Elders of the NPP in the Nabdam constituency, Mr. Thomas Bengre Kparib, and the First Vice-Chairman of Babdam Constituency, Mr. Walla-Dag-Bama thanked them for their bold decision to join the elephant family, even at a time that their own party was in power.

The new converts promised to join forces with the NPP to win more members and supporters from the NDC side, so that they would campaign vigorously against the NDC and its failed promises to bring NPP back to power.

Meanwhile, Mr. Moses Asaga has denied any wrong doing, and contended that the defecting youth were disgruntled and causing nuisance in the constituency.

Touching on the issue, the MP said he had provided streetlights to the constituency, supported over 200 students from Senior High School to tertiary institutions, including the brother of Mr. Datimina himself, has also provided about 25 boreholes, initiated 3 electrification projects of which two were commissioned at Zalerigu and Asonge.

The Loagri, Pelungu-Sakote road is also under construction, 200 lamps and holders secured and kept in a warehouse for Nabdam Streetlight project, 10 market stalls projects at 90% completion at Nangodi market.

Mr. Asaga, who is currently in the constituency, also denied the allegation that he does not visit the constituency. He said as a member of the Pan-African Parliament, he is a busy person; but still makes time to visit his constituency any time he gets the opportunity.