By Alhassa M. Murtala-Tamale

The strength of the Ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tamale North constituency has further been weakened following the defection of about 80 members of the party to the Convention People Party.

The group, mainly the youth from Kanvili, a community in the metropolis, have catalog a number of issues which according to them have lead to their defections.

Assigning reasons for their defection to the CPP, the leader of the defectors Mr. Musah Sumani said the inability and sluggish nature of President Mills lead government to finding the killers of the overlord of Dagbon, Ya Na Yakubu Andani is among the major reason for their defection, according to them, it was a key campaign promise by the NDC but on coming to office, the party have not fund it necessary to properly investigate the issues and bring the perpetrators to book.

The poor performance of the Mills lead administration, which had brought untold hardship to the citizenry according to them, is another reason for the action.

He stated that, the failure on the part of their Member of Parliament, Alhaji Abubakar Sumani to fulfill numerous promises made them also informed their decision to quit the ruling party, ‘’ In the heat of the 2008 electioneering campaign, the MP came and promised to fix the area with street light and get us well paid jobs if we worked assiduously to enable him and the NDC win power, something we did diligently but unfortunately both the NDC and our MP have failed us in spite of the several calls to remind them.’’ Musah fumed.

On why they chose the CPP as an alternative to other political parties, the group said they were well aware of the leadership skill the 2008 presidential flag bearer of the CPP, his ability to invest in the Northern Region made them feel he was part of them and understand their situation hence their association with the party.

The CEO of Gold Coast Security Company and First Ghana National Savings and Loans Bank, Dr Ndoum, was praised for the wonderful role he played in private sector development and having been the only presidential aspirant who’s investment in the North and have saved as a source of employment to the terming youth,

These according to them make them feel Dr Ndoum is part of them and in the best position if elected as the president come 2012 to understand the northern situation, “Dr Ndoum will not champion or advocate for violence in the region because he is well aware it will have a negative effect on his investment, he will do all he can for the north to be peaceful so we can have the needed development” they held.

What is irking is the fact that there are no structures in the party with in the region where supporters can send their grievances for redress, “Even in the animal kingdom were the strong survives there are laid down procedures “one of the defectors bluntly told the paper.

If the demands of the grassroots do not become an upbeat to the hierarchy of the NDC and government they will regret in 20012, adding that, the Regional executives should continue awarding themselves with contracts left, right and center to the disadvantage of the ‘minors’, threatening that the same thumb that enable them to win power will remind them of what it can do when the D day comes, they told THE INFORMER.

Alhaji Murtala Kwame, a leading member and an aspirants of the regional youth organizer position of the Convention People Party, who was part of the meeting confirmed the story, adding that the group was very instrumental in the figure the MP as well the NDC recorded in the 2008 elections, ‘’the boys have vowed to work extra hard to ensure that the CPP did not only increase votes in the area but the Northern Region as a whole.

He urged them to embark on a serious campaign as soon as possible to convince more supporters particularly the NDC and NPP to voter massively for the CPP come 2012 elections, stressing that the time to break the Northern jinx was now and entreated on them to remain resolute and steadfast in their relationship with the CPP, indicating that announcing ones defection to another party was not enough but commitment to work for the party as supreme.

Alhaji Murtala promised that the party would do everything within its reach to ensure that their stay in the CPP became comfortable and worthwhile, prophesying that come what may, Dr. Paa Kwasi Ndoum would become the next President of Ghana in 2012.

The group denied the accession that they were influenced with money to join the CPP, stressing that if it was money, they would not have joined the CPP but would remained in the NDC because the party was in power.

Meanwhile, the defectors, THE INFORMER leant, are preparing to publicly announce their defection to the Convention People Party any time soon.