Sankana, (UW), Oct. 28, GNA - A traditional ruler in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region, has urged Ghanaians to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections on 7 December.

Naa Yelkuma Dogoli Bagah II, chief of Sankana Divisional Area, said that this would help deepen Ghana's democratic dispensation. He made the call when Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP), presidential candidate, called on him at Sankana.

Naa Bagah said poverty, illiteracy and ignorance, pervasive in the Northern part of the country, could be eliminated only under a peaceful environment.

Naa Bagah commended the government for implementing policies aimed at addressing poverty, illiteracy and ignorance in the North. He said "The Northern Development Fund, National Health Insurance, School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant, the National Youth Employment and the ongoing enhanced Rural Electrification Programme, the development of education, roads and health infrastructure had been laudable and beneficial policies to the people".

Naa Bagah asked Ghanaians to look forward to another NPP Government in 2009 that would expand and consolidate the ongoing initiatives and embark on new programmes to improve road network of the country. He appealed to government to rehabilitate roads and build bridges in the areas affected by flood.

Naa Bagah also urged the authorities revamp the Sankana Dam to assist in boosting agriculture.

Naa Baga mentioned Sankana Slaves Caves, Scenic Granite Rocks, Onbo Wira and Takpo Mushroom Rocks as tourist centres in the area that needed to be developed to generate revenue for the country. Dr. Bawumia thanked Naa Bagah and his people for appreciating government development projects in the area.

He asked the electorate to change their voting pattern in favour of the NPP to win power to enable it implement its development agenda for the North.

Dr. Bawumia called on the people to take advantage of the free basic school programme and send their children to school. He later addressed a political rally at Sankana to round off his three-day campaign tour of the region. 28 Oct. 07