SUPPORTERS of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region reaffirmed the stronghold accolade of the party in the region when they poured out in their numbers to welcome the party's flag bearer, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, to Wa.
Prof Mills, whose visit was preceded by that of the former President and founder of the NDC, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, came on the heels of that of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Prior to his arrival, enthusiastic supporters of the NDC met the convoy of Prof Mills on the Wa-Jirapa road and led it through the Wa Market area to the rally grounds.
From teenagers to potential voters and the very old supporters and sympathisers of the NDC from all walks of life kept faith with their most-loved party as they followed the flag bearer through the principal streets of the town.
The crowd was so thick that the police and other security personnel on duty had a hectic time controlling it and in what is gradually becoming a ritual during visits of presidential candidates to the Wa municipality, some motorcycle riders who rode recklesslessly were involved in accidents and were rushed to the hospital.
On arrival at the rally grounds, Prof Mills was greeted with thunderous cheers and responded with the "yereseseamu" symbol, which was simultaneously replicated by the supporters.
Addressing the crowd, a former Regional Minister of the Upper West Region, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, told the crowd that "We are only asking for a change".
He said the NPP had left all the schools, electricity projects and road projects in the Upper West unattended to and, therefore, they must change the government for the NDC to come and continue with its good works.
The National Womens Organiser of the NDC, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, asked the people to examine their lifestyle and see if there had been any improvement since the NPP came to power.
She said the NPP used that message in the past elections, but because it realised it had failed Ghanaians, it was not using it anymore.
She stressed the need for the people of the Upper West Region to give the NDC the chance to come and improve their living standards.
For his part, Prof Mills promised to re-construct the roads linking the Upper West and the Upper East regions as well as the one linking the Upper West to the Northern Region.
He assured them of a truthful, honest and sincere leadership when he became President, and thanked the people for the overwhelming reception accorded him and his entourage.
That, he said, was a clear manifestation that come December 7, 2008, the NDC was going to win the elections.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
CAMPAIGN TRAIL OF NPP SHAKES WA
For the first time in sixteen years, the campaign trail of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) shook the foundations of Wa, the Upper West regional capital, with a rally held at Timdamba JHS park.
The rally, which attracted a large crowd, also ignited the hitherto low key political activity in the region and close to an hour after the rally, Wa experienced one of its worst vehicular traffic jams, especially between the roads from the Wa central market traffic lights through to the junction linking the main Wa-Kumasi road.
Around 12 noon, supporters of the NPP and other sympathisers clad in the party colours, could be seen in almost every part of the municipality, many of them on motorcycles.
Others also sat on top of vehicles fixed with musical gadgets and danced through the principal streets to the rally grounds where they waited anxiously for the flag bearer and his running mate.
Then came the moment they were all waiting for, when Nana Akufo-Addo, followed by his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, drove in open top vehicles with smiles on their faces as they waved to the crowds amidst cheers from their supporters.
After a brief Muslim prayer, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mohamadu Abdul Aziz, set the ball rolling and told the supporters why they had gathered there and why they should vote for the NPP on December 7, 2008.
A Minister of State at the Office of the Attorney General and parliamentary candidate for the NPP in the Lawra/Nandom Constituency, Mr Ambrose Dery, educated the crowd on the ballot paper.
He said the NPP is number one on the ballot paper and that they must be vigilant and always look out for the elephant emblem.
The crowd roared when Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo preceded his speech with some youthful dance. He stressed the need for all to guard the peace the country was enjoying.
He said politics and elections were about different ideologies and choices and not about war and, therefore, as pacesetters in violence-free democratic elections on the continent there was the need to prove to the entire world that Ghana could also hold democratic elections devoid of violence.
He reiterated his resolve to improve conditions through the Northern Development Authority, which would be supported with seed money of one billion cedis.
This, he said, was the only way to bridge the widening development gap between the north and the south which had compelled most of the youth from the north to migrate to the south to seek non-existing jobs. Nana Akufo-Addo addressed a similar rally at Tumu in the Sissala East District.
Other speakers included Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Godfrey Bayoung Tangou and Mr Yaw Boakye Agyarko.
The rally, which attracted a large crowd, also ignited the hitherto low key political activity in the region and close to an hour after the rally, Wa experienced one of its worst vehicular traffic jams, especially between the roads from the Wa central market traffic lights through to the junction linking the main Wa-Kumasi road.
Around 12 noon, supporters of the NPP and other sympathisers clad in the party colours, could be seen in almost every part of the municipality, many of them on motorcycles.
Others also sat on top of vehicles fixed with musical gadgets and danced through the principal streets to the rally grounds where they waited anxiously for the flag bearer and his running mate.
Then came the moment they were all waiting for, when Nana Akufo-Addo, followed by his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, drove in open top vehicles with smiles on their faces as they waved to the crowds amidst cheers from their supporters.
After a brief Muslim prayer, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mohamadu Abdul Aziz, set the ball rolling and told the supporters why they had gathered there and why they should vote for the NPP on December 7, 2008.
A Minister of State at the Office of the Attorney General and parliamentary candidate for the NPP in the Lawra/Nandom Constituency, Mr Ambrose Dery, educated the crowd on the ballot paper.
He said the NPP is number one on the ballot paper and that they must be vigilant and always look out for the elephant emblem.
The crowd roared when Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo preceded his speech with some youthful dance. He stressed the need for all to guard the peace the country was enjoying.
He said politics and elections were about different ideologies and choices and not about war and, therefore, as pacesetters in violence-free democratic elections on the continent there was the need to prove to the entire world that Ghana could also hold democratic elections devoid of violence.
He reiterated his resolve to improve conditions through the Northern Development Authority, which would be supported with seed money of one billion cedis.
This, he said, was the only way to bridge the widening development gap between the north and the south which had compelled most of the youth from the north to migrate to the south to seek non-existing jobs. Nana Akufo-Addo addressed a similar rally at Tumu in the Sissala East District.
Other speakers included Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Godfrey Bayoung Tangou and Mr Yaw Boakye Agyarko.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
CULTIVATE SORGHUM IN LARGE QUANTITIES — BENSON (PAGE 20)
THE Upper West Regional Minister, Mr George Hikah Benson, has advised farmers in the region to cultivate the new sorghum variety (Kapaala) in large quantities to meet the demands of the brewery industry.
He said the advice had become imperative as Guinness Ghana Breweries had indicated its readiness to purchase more of the cereal.
Mr Benson was addressing the 24th farmers’ day celebration at Lawra.
He stated that the preparedness of Guinness Ghana Breweries to buy the cereal, the perennial problems of post harvest losses and lack of market for the crop would be a thing of the past.
Touching on methods needed to improve crop yield in the coming year, Mr Benson urged farmers to do away with activities which led to the destruction of farmlands, such as bushfires and the wrong application of agricultural chemicals.
“We are entering the harmarttan season so I urge all farmers and non -farmers to desist from indiscriminate bush burning with its attendant negative impact on the national economy,” the regional minister stressed.
He said the advice had become imperative as Guinness Ghana Breweries had indicated its readiness to purchase more of the cereal.
Mr Benson was addressing the 24th farmers’ day celebration at Lawra.
He stated that the preparedness of Guinness Ghana Breweries to buy the cereal, the perennial problems of post harvest losses and lack of market for the crop would be a thing of the past.
Touching on methods needed to improve crop yield in the coming year, Mr Benson urged farmers to do away with activities which led to the destruction of farmlands, such as bushfires and the wrong application of agricultural chemicals.
“We are entering the harmarttan season so I urge all farmers and non -farmers to desist from indiscriminate bush burning with its attendant negative impact on the national economy,” the regional minister stressed.
NYC TO PROMOTE DIALOGUE AMONG RCCs AND YOUTH (PAGE 20)
THE National Youth Council (NYC) intends to create forums for consultations and dialogue in all the ten regions of the country.
The forums, which would be between the Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCCs) and the Federation of Youth Associations of Ghana (FEDYAG), would enable them to share knowledge on the implementation of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Upper West Regional Youth Co-ordinator, Mr Mumuni Suleimana, announced this at a dialogue meeting among the RCCs, the district assemblies and various youth groups in Wa.
The key objectives of the meeting were to promote peer-led, community-driven development initiatives and create information sharing opportunities for the participants to enable the youth to make well-informed choices and decisions.
Mr Suleimana said in spite of the fact that the youth constituted 45 per cent of the country's population, there were inadequate structures in place for effective youth participation in the implementation of national development policies.
"More so, there is little encouragement on the part of government gatekeepers to consult the youth on matters affecting them, especially in poverty reduction strategy efforts," he observed.
Mr Suleimana was therefore hopeful that the meeting would go a long way to generate a high sense of partnership in the national development process.
On the forthcoming general election, he urged youth groups in the region to remain steadfast and not to fall prey to dirty tricks of some politicians.
For his part, the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yakubu, called on district assemblies to show more commitment to youth activities.
He commended the NYC for organising the meeting, since it would sensitise the youth to government policies and programmes.
The forums, which would be between the Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCCs) and the Federation of Youth Associations of Ghana (FEDYAG), would enable them to share knowledge on the implementation of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Upper West Regional Youth Co-ordinator, Mr Mumuni Suleimana, announced this at a dialogue meeting among the RCCs, the district assemblies and various youth groups in Wa.
The key objectives of the meeting were to promote peer-led, community-driven development initiatives and create information sharing opportunities for the participants to enable the youth to make well-informed choices and decisions.
Mr Suleimana said in spite of the fact that the youth constituted 45 per cent of the country's population, there were inadequate structures in place for effective youth participation in the implementation of national development policies.
"More so, there is little encouragement on the part of government gatekeepers to consult the youth on matters affecting them, especially in poverty reduction strategy efforts," he observed.
Mr Suleimana was therefore hopeful that the meeting would go a long way to generate a high sense of partnership in the national development process.
On the forthcoming general election, he urged youth groups in the region to remain steadfast and not to fall prey to dirty tricks of some politicians.
For his part, the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yakubu, called on district assemblies to show more commitment to youth activities.
He commended the NYC for organising the meeting, since it would sensitise the youth to government policies and programmes.
WOMEN LEADERS REVIEW PERFORMANCE ON SKILLS TRAINING (PAGE 20)
A DAY’s workshop for women leaders in the three northern regions has been held in Wa in the Upper West Region.
The Upper West Rural Women Association (UWRWA) in collaboration with the Department of Women and the Public Affairs section of the United States Embassy in Ghana, organised the workshop.
The aim of the workshop was to review the performance of the women leaders after a skills training workshop had been organised for them last year.
In an address, the Executive Director of the UWRWA, Mrs Cate Bob-Milliar, called for periodic training for women in order to build their confidence level to an appreciable level.
That, she said, was critical for women leaders from the three northern regions, since they still lagged behind their counterparts in southern Ghana.
Mrs Bob-Millar commended the United States Embassy in Ghana for its continuous support for the UWRWA.
"Many workshops, mostly skills training ones have been sponsored by the embassy. They have also funded other programmes for beneficiaries of the International Visitors Programme to share their packages with their colleagues on their return," she added.
Mrs Bob-Milliar noted that the training the women acquired last year had improved their living conditions.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, Alhaji Issahque Alhassan, stated that empowerment was the most viable venture for sustainable development.
He urged the women leaders to let the experience acquired at the workshop trickle down to other women’s groups.
The Upper West Rural Women Association (UWRWA) in collaboration with the Department of Women and the Public Affairs section of the United States Embassy in Ghana, organised the workshop.
The aim of the workshop was to review the performance of the women leaders after a skills training workshop had been organised for them last year.
In an address, the Executive Director of the UWRWA, Mrs Cate Bob-Milliar, called for periodic training for women in order to build their confidence level to an appreciable level.
That, she said, was critical for women leaders from the three northern regions, since they still lagged behind their counterparts in southern Ghana.
Mrs Bob-Millar commended the United States Embassy in Ghana for its continuous support for the UWRWA.
"Many workshops, mostly skills training ones have been sponsored by the embassy. They have also funded other programmes for beneficiaries of the International Visitors Programme to share their packages with their colleagues on their return," she added.
Mrs Bob-Milliar noted that the training the women acquired last year had improved their living conditions.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, Alhaji Issahque Alhassan, stated that empowerment was the most viable venture for sustainable development.
He urged the women leaders to let the experience acquired at the workshop trickle down to other women’s groups.
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SANITATION MARKED AT WA (PAGE 20)
This year's International Year of Sanitation has taken place in Wa, with a procession by schoolchildren.
They carried placards some of which read: “Keep our surroundings clean”; “Don't litter”; “Build more places of convenience”; “Save children from environmental pollution”.
Plan Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), supported the programme.
In a petition presented to the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mrs Winifred Dy-Yaka, the children recognised the role of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management company, in helping to improve sanitation in the region.
They, however, regretted that the region placed last as far as sanitation was concerned in the country.
"Landlords build houses without latrines and the situation has resulted in indiscriminate defecation by residents”, they lamented, adding that lack of water at the Wa abattoir and indiscriminate disposal of waste, especially plastic bags, were appalling.
The children, therefore, called for re-introduction of monthly clean-up exercises in the region, stressing that bye-laws on sanitation should be enforced.
They also suggested that the use of plastic bags be banned and possibly alternatives that were more friendly to the environment be found.
"Honourable Minister, we believe that if sanitation is tackled seriously, it will promote good health for children in the region and make Upper West the neatest region in the country," they stressed.
Receiving the petition, Mrs Dy-Yakah commended the children for their concerns. She urged them to be ambassadors of a clean environment.
They carried placards some of which read: “Keep our surroundings clean”; “Don't litter”; “Build more places of convenience”; “Save children from environmental pollution”.
Plan Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), supported the programme.
In a petition presented to the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mrs Winifred Dy-Yaka, the children recognised the role of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management company, in helping to improve sanitation in the region.
They, however, regretted that the region placed last as far as sanitation was concerned in the country.
"Landlords build houses without latrines and the situation has resulted in indiscriminate defecation by residents”, they lamented, adding that lack of water at the Wa abattoir and indiscriminate disposal of waste, especially plastic bags, were appalling.
The children, therefore, called for re-introduction of monthly clean-up exercises in the region, stressing that bye-laws on sanitation should be enforced.
They also suggested that the use of plastic bags be banned and possibly alternatives that were more friendly to the environment be found.
"Honourable Minister, we believe that if sanitation is tackled seriously, it will promote good health for children in the region and make Upper West the neatest region in the country," they stressed.
Receiving the petition, Mrs Dy-Yakah commended the children for their concerns. She urged them to be ambassadors of a clean environment.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
KEEN CONTEST EXPECTED IN UPPER WEST (PAGE 15)
This year's general election in the Upper West Region promises to be keenly contested as various political parties have stepped up their political campaigns.
The intensity of campaigning by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is so visible, in comparison with other parties who are working on the quiet, but striving to make their presence felt in the region.
While the NPP has targeted at least four seats, the NDC has sworn to retain all their seats and reclaim Sissala West as well as Sissala East, which were won by the People's National Convention (PNC).
The confidence of the NPP is high due to the fact that the party has since 1992 been increasing its voting percentage.
From 11.19 per cent in 1992, the party has moved to 32.23 per cent in 2004, and has now targeted 50 per cent of the valid votes to be cast.
In the parliamentary elections, the battle ground is the Lawra-Nandom Constituency where old friends square each other up for the second time. They are Dr Benjamin Kumbuor and Mr Ambrose Dery of the NDC and NPP respectively. During the last election in 2004, Dr Kumbuor defeated Mr Dery with 19,306 votes representing 62 per cent as against 10,549.
Although Mr Dery increased the votes of the NPP from a mere 2,000 in the year 2000 to 10,549, it was the belief of the people that he would have done better if he were visiting home regularly. People in the constituency at that time did not know him very much.
Therefore, when he was made the Regional Minister, Mr Dery worked hard to consolidate and improve upon his performance, hence the high level of confidence of his supporters.
Another dimension that has boosted this conviction is the candidature of Mr Bede Ziedeng, a former member of the NDC, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister and now the General Secretary of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), a break-away party from the NDC. With Mr Ziedeng, also a prominent citizen of the constituency, he is likely to take a chunk of the NDC votes for Mr Dery to sail through.
However, a staunch supporter of the NDC, Mr Stephen Kpen, dismissed the assertion and described Dr Kumbuor as an old fox with a wealth of experience to dismiss the bluff of all opposition.
"We do not fear them and come the election day, their supporters will sleep early," he told the Daily Graphic.
In the Wa East Constituency, which, incidentally, was the only seat won by the NPP in 2004, Mr Godfrey Tangu comes face to face with Ameen Salifu, based in the United Kingdom.
Tangu won 10,947 votes to beat the then NDC incumbent Alhaji Issahaque Salia, who had 9,275. The NDC attributed the defeat to a lack of effective campaign on the part of their candidate. Mr Salifu, is therefore, moving to every part of the constituency to sell his message to the people.
The Wa Central Constituency is a straight fight between NDC's Rashid Pelpuo and the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Clement Eledi. In 2004, when the popular choice of the NPP supporters was defeated at the primary by Mr Adama Keglah, his supporters voted ‘skirt and blouse’ for President J.A. Kufuor in the presidential elections and Mr Bernard Mornah, the parliamentary candidate for the PNC. Keglah had 7,249 as against Mornah's 12,280 votes.
President Kufuor had a little over 19,000 votes, Dr Edward Mahama 3,000, and Professor Evans Atta Mills 22,000.
The argument by NPP supporters is that but for the confusion, Mr Rashid Pelpuo's 21,272 would not have been enough for him to win. With their confidence level rising by the day, NPP supporters are optimistic that this time around, Wa Central would fall to them. But there is one major issue which may militate against Eledi's dream and this is tribal.
Eledi is a Dagao from Cherrie in the Wa Municipality and Pelpuo is a Wala. The argument of some Wala people is that, since their tribe is mainly found in the Wa Municipality, which, incidentally, is the Wa Central Constituency, a Wala man should represent them or else there would be no Wala tribesman in the Legislature. They also contend that the Dagao's have a lot of constituencies in the Upper West Region. Although this may sound simplistic, it is one issue that has dominated most informal discussions.
The battle for Sissala West is too close to call. The present Regional Minister, George Hikah Benson, who is contesting for the second time, would have tough customers in the incumbent MP, Mr Bayirga Haruna of the PNC and Mr Robert Wavei of the NDC. Wavei replaces Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, who lost with only29 votes to Mr Bayirga 4,788; George Hikah Benson 4,419 and Alhaji Amidu Suleimana 4,759, while an independent candidate, Mr Peters Kale, polled 1,677.
The votes of Mr Peters Kale, who was then a renegade member of the NDC, made Alhaji Amidu to lose, but currently he is back in the camp of the NDC and the expectation is that he would convince his Fielmua community, which is an NDC-dominated area, to vote for the NDC parliamentary candidate.
However, never be shocked to see George Hikah Benson springing a surprise. Moses Dani Baah is very likely to retain his seat, despite the NPP putting up a candidate, for the first time, to contest. The NDC candidate was no match for Mr Dani Baah. He could poll only 4,943 as against 14,186 by Mr Dani Baah.
Lambussie and Nadowli East present an open contest where any of the parties can win the seats. However, Wa West, which will have been a close contest between the NPP and the NDC candidate, had seen a new dimension following the nomination of Major Edward Yirimambo (retd) as an independent candidate. Major Yirimambo contested on the ticket of the NPP and lost to Mr Yieleh Chireh of the NDC in 2004.
Therefore, it is the view of some NPP activists that Major Yirimambo would spoil the party for the NPP candidate, Mr Dan Dari.
As for Jirapa and Nadowli West, the NPP and other parties should forget about them because of Edward Salia and Alban Bagbin. They seem too strong to be defeated by the NPP, unless the unexpected happens anyway.
The intensity of campaigning by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is so visible, in comparison with other parties who are working on the quiet, but striving to make their presence felt in the region.
While the NPP has targeted at least four seats, the NDC has sworn to retain all their seats and reclaim Sissala West as well as Sissala East, which were won by the People's National Convention (PNC).
The confidence of the NPP is high due to the fact that the party has since 1992 been increasing its voting percentage.
From 11.19 per cent in 1992, the party has moved to 32.23 per cent in 2004, and has now targeted 50 per cent of the valid votes to be cast.
In the parliamentary elections, the battle ground is the Lawra-Nandom Constituency where old friends square each other up for the second time. They are Dr Benjamin Kumbuor and Mr Ambrose Dery of the NDC and NPP respectively. During the last election in 2004, Dr Kumbuor defeated Mr Dery with 19,306 votes representing 62 per cent as against 10,549.
Although Mr Dery increased the votes of the NPP from a mere 2,000 in the year 2000 to 10,549, it was the belief of the people that he would have done better if he were visiting home regularly. People in the constituency at that time did not know him very much.
Therefore, when he was made the Regional Minister, Mr Dery worked hard to consolidate and improve upon his performance, hence the high level of confidence of his supporters.
Another dimension that has boosted this conviction is the candidature of Mr Bede Ziedeng, a former member of the NDC, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister and now the General Secretary of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), a break-away party from the NDC. With Mr Ziedeng, also a prominent citizen of the constituency, he is likely to take a chunk of the NDC votes for Mr Dery to sail through.
However, a staunch supporter of the NDC, Mr Stephen Kpen, dismissed the assertion and described Dr Kumbuor as an old fox with a wealth of experience to dismiss the bluff of all opposition.
"We do not fear them and come the election day, their supporters will sleep early," he told the Daily Graphic.
In the Wa East Constituency, which, incidentally, was the only seat won by the NPP in 2004, Mr Godfrey Tangu comes face to face with Ameen Salifu, based in the United Kingdom.
Tangu won 10,947 votes to beat the then NDC incumbent Alhaji Issahaque Salia, who had 9,275. The NDC attributed the defeat to a lack of effective campaign on the part of their candidate. Mr Salifu, is therefore, moving to every part of the constituency to sell his message to the people.
The Wa Central Constituency is a straight fight between NDC's Rashid Pelpuo and the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Clement Eledi. In 2004, when the popular choice of the NPP supporters was defeated at the primary by Mr Adama Keglah, his supporters voted ‘skirt and blouse’ for President J.A. Kufuor in the presidential elections and Mr Bernard Mornah, the parliamentary candidate for the PNC. Keglah had 7,249 as against Mornah's 12,280 votes.
President Kufuor had a little over 19,000 votes, Dr Edward Mahama 3,000, and Professor Evans Atta Mills 22,000.
The argument by NPP supporters is that but for the confusion, Mr Rashid Pelpuo's 21,272 would not have been enough for him to win. With their confidence level rising by the day, NPP supporters are optimistic that this time around, Wa Central would fall to them. But there is one major issue which may militate against Eledi's dream and this is tribal.
Eledi is a Dagao from Cherrie in the Wa Municipality and Pelpuo is a Wala. The argument of some Wala people is that, since their tribe is mainly found in the Wa Municipality, which, incidentally, is the Wa Central Constituency, a Wala man should represent them or else there would be no Wala tribesman in the Legislature. They also contend that the Dagao's have a lot of constituencies in the Upper West Region. Although this may sound simplistic, it is one issue that has dominated most informal discussions.
The battle for Sissala West is too close to call. The present Regional Minister, George Hikah Benson, who is contesting for the second time, would have tough customers in the incumbent MP, Mr Bayirga Haruna of the PNC and Mr Robert Wavei of the NDC. Wavei replaces Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, who lost with only29 votes to Mr Bayirga 4,788; George Hikah Benson 4,419 and Alhaji Amidu Suleimana 4,759, while an independent candidate, Mr Peters Kale, polled 1,677.
The votes of Mr Peters Kale, who was then a renegade member of the NDC, made Alhaji Amidu to lose, but currently he is back in the camp of the NDC and the expectation is that he would convince his Fielmua community, which is an NDC-dominated area, to vote for the NDC parliamentary candidate.
However, never be shocked to see George Hikah Benson springing a surprise. Moses Dani Baah is very likely to retain his seat, despite the NPP putting up a candidate, for the first time, to contest. The NDC candidate was no match for Mr Dani Baah. He could poll only 4,943 as against 14,186 by Mr Dani Baah.
Lambussie and Nadowli East present an open contest where any of the parties can win the seats. However, Wa West, which will have been a close contest between the NPP and the NDC candidate, had seen a new dimension following the nomination of Major Edward Yirimambo (retd) as an independent candidate. Major Yirimambo contested on the ticket of the NPP and lost to Mr Yieleh Chireh of the NDC in 2004.
Therefore, it is the view of some NPP activists that Major Yirimambo would spoil the party for the NPP candidate, Mr Dan Dari.
As for Jirapa and Nadowli West, the NPP and other parties should forget about them because of Edward Salia and Alban Bagbin. They seem too strong to be defeated by the NPP, unless the unexpected happens anyway.
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