Navrongo (U/E), Dec 23, GNA - Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has said he would work hard to ensure that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is brought back to power in 2012.

He said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Regent of Navrongo, Pe Arthur Adda Balinia, to thank him for the support the NPP got from the area during its eight-year rule.

Alhaji Aliu said the Mills-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration had been marked with discrimination against Ghanaians who they found not to belong to the NDC and that the NPP could not afford to remain in opposition beyond 2012.

"Driving the non-NDC youths away from their jobs to make way for NDC members is contrary to the political tolerance that is needed to entrench the country's democracy," he said.

The former Vice President said his good rapport with the northern traditional authorities throughout his vice-presidency would help the NPP in the campaign for the 2012 election.

He said God often hurled one political party into opposition, paving way for another one and described the exit of the NPP 1n 2008 as "ear-pulling punishment" for the wrong attitudes of its functionaries. Alhaji Mahama said inadequate supply of water had remained a challenge to northern Ghana.

He advised the constituents to shun politicians who would want to use money to woo them during the 2012 election and vote wisely based on objective comparison between the previous NPP Administration and the current NDC Government.

The Regent said he was impressed by the humility and care the former Vice President showed towards the palace before, during and after his position and pledged continuous support for him from his chiefdom.