Navrongo is Sure And Direct - Dr. Edward Mahama

THE LEADER of the People's National Convention ( PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has said that, if the Navrongo by-elections scheduled for the 25th of this month is free and fair, the party will win hands down, which will pave the way for the party's victory in the next elections.

Speaking in an interview with Chronicle, he said the change that the people of Ghana are yearning for would start in Navrongo when the PNC wins the by-elections, as there has not been any development in the area since the NPP came to power.

PNC, he said, is advocating for a change through the ballot box, a change that will bring about a new direction in the lives of Ghanaians.

"The politics of promising without delivering is not what we are up to," he stressed. He also stated that their victory would serve as an opportunity for the inhabitants of Navrongo to tell Ghanaians that they are fed up with the increase in the prices of petroleum products, tariffs and utility services.

Chronicle was also informed that, Mr. Gabriel Pwamang a candidate of the party who also doubles as its general secretary can deliver what the people want, since he is noted in Navrongo for his hard work.

He hinted that a campaign committee, made up of Mr. Harry Ghandaha, the constituency chairman, and Francis Badjie, Ghana's former high commissioner to London, has been set up as part of activities to win the by-election.

The party being the first to campaign in the constituency has been able to visit every household in the villages that come under the constituency.

Dr. Mahama said, the PNC 's campaign message to the electorate is that it will give subsidies to farmers and fishermen to make them work hard. The electorate was also assured of free compulsory education during their campaign messages.

Since education, is the only key to get the country out of poverty. The PNC leader criticised the ruling party by stating that its poverty reduction progarmme should aim at reducing poverty but not do away with it, since it cannot be done away with.

Also, he said the party has mounted billboards and given out party T-shirts to its supporters as part of propagating themselves for people to identify them.

When asked about the party having logistics to help it win the by-elections, he stated that it has enough to do that, adding that the by-elections are not helping the party since the money spent on the elections could be used to organise party programmes.

Supporters, he said are not contributing as much as is needed to help it meet its financial needs, thanks to the NPP for its HIPC policies.

On the issue of political parties buying votes, he said even though the ruling government had the machinery to rig the elections, PNC would not use any fraudulent means but would still win.

In spite of the ruling party having money to buy bicycles and corn mills to give to the electorate, as bait, to vote for them, he said the inhabitants of Navrongo would reject any offers made to them.