TAMALE MAYOR COMMENDS CHIEFS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS

The Mayor of Tamale, Alhaji Abudulai Harruna Friday, has commended Chiefs, religious and other community leaders highly for their various roles in the sustenance of peace in their respective areas which he said has tremendously boosted investor confidence in the Metropolis. According to Alhaji Harruna Friday, the Metropolitan Assembly and indeed government was well aware of their individual and collective effort to ensuring that Tamale and its environs remained peaceful for a cohesive national development which cannot afford to be left behind. Alhaji Harruna Friday made the commendation during separate working visits to eighteen (18) communities in three Electoral Areas in the rural and peri-urban areas of the Metropolis to interact with residents there and also to re-assure them of the Assembly’s continuous and unwavering commitment to the development of all parts of the city. The visits also formed part of measures by the Assembly to have first hand information on the various developmental challenges facing the people as a community and try to fashion out appropriate solutions to them. Some of the communities covered by the tour are Sanga, Kpunjiling, Kukipihi, Garizegu, Mamandu, Nyarizee,Kun-nyevilla, Samaba, Nyohini and Parrin. Alhaji Harruna Friday who was accompanied on the tour by Hon. Prince A.A. Mohammed, Presiding Member of the Assembly and other Management staff said one of the leadership and management style adopted by the Assembly is to constantly be in touch with the people at the grassroots by holding direct interaction and discussions at their respective doorsteps so as to let them feel part of the Governance process. The people in almost all the communities visited appealed for various developmental interventions ranging from the provision of electricity, safe drinking water, good and access roads, new schools, job opportunities, support for Agriculture and micro-finance assistance for women groups among others. In response, Alhaji Harruna Friday re-affirmed Government’s commitment to ensure the extension of the National Electricity Grid to all parts of the country where possible and assured that all communities that have been earmarked to benefit from the Rural Electrification Pprogramme would benefit.    

NORTHERN YOUTH ANGRY WITH FIFI KWETEY

The Tamale South Constituency Youth wing of the New Patriotic Party is mad with the Deputy Minister of Finance Fifi Kwetey for opening her mouth too wide and making potentially damaging comments about Muslims with a called on him to render unqualified apology to the Muslims community and for that matter the good people in the north. On cable 99 of the wekkileak which was release on 6^th of August this year, indicated that the deputy Minister of energy whom was also the propaganda secretary of the ruling NDC party, then in opposition said that Muslims cannot lead this country or be a president for this country. The irate youth said this comments by the then propaganda secretary of the NDC has the tendency of destroying this nation. The Youth also said by this signal; indicates that the NDC as a party has the conviction that no Muslim in the country is competent enough to be a president and even a Vice President. The statement however indicates that it is of no surprised that Alhaji Mohammed Mimuni was unilaterally substituted for John Dramani Mahama reiterating that the minister must call to order by the President of this country. The NPP Tamale South youth also poke into the cable given a damning revelation of how politicians in the ruling party exploit the powers of the presidency to manipulate the oil revenue for their selfish interest which they described as detrimental to the development of this nation. In an interview with the adviser of the Ghana Muslim Students Association Abdul-Sammy Musah described the comments of the Mr. Fifi Kwetey as unprofessional and unreasonable saying that he does not expect such comment from a government functionary like the deputy Minister of Finance who is a role model to many youth Ghanaians.                                       

NORSAAC BEMOANS NORTHERN FEMALE MP’S REPRESENTATION

The Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC) has described as “Undemocratic” the current state in which the entire northern region with 26 constituencies can only boast of one female Parliamentarian. Hon. Hajia Mary Boforo, Member of Parliament for the Savelugu constituency is the only female Legislator representing the region and this in the judgement of NORSAAC is not the best. NORSAAC, a Non Governmental Organization which supports women empowerment programmes in the northern region called for concerted efforts to change the paradigm as the 2012 general elections fast approach. Mr. Alhassan Mohammed Awal, Executive Director of the NORSAC on Awareness Centre expressed his frustration over the issue at the opening ceremony of a two day capacity training workshop on advocacy, lobbying and legal awareness skills organized for 40 young female Parliamentarians in Tamale. He said the Young Female Parliamentarians was initiated by Action-Aid Ghana in partnership with NORSAAC which sought to provide space for young females in the region to acquire the necessary skills and confidence that will encourage them to engage in participatory governance. The NORSAAC Executive Director encouraged the participants to break the myth surrounding male dominance in Parliament by showing interest in becoming Parliamentarians.  He reiterated his outfit’s commitment to resource female aspirants interested in contesting the district assembly, unit committee and Parliamentary elections to bridge the gender disparity between male and female representation in authority. With 20, 000 Ghana cedis financial support from Action-Aid Ghana, Mr. Alhassan Mohammed Awal disclosed that the participants will visit Parliament House in October 2011 to observe Parliamentary sittings and also interact with some women achievers in Ghana.