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Opinions of Monday, 21 November 2016

Columnist: Agyemang, Katakyie Kwame Opoku

President Mahama - a bane of Northern progress and development

President John Dramani Mahama President John Dramani Mahama

For me, the number one enemy to the progress and development in the Northern part of this country is no other person than John Mahama; and the reasons for my assertion are not far-fetched.

First, look at the state of SADA and tell me whether this man truly comes from the North. SADA, an initiative of Nana Akufo-Addo (Northern Development Authority) was stolen by John Mahama and it is now embedded with massive corruption. The NDC promised to invest GHC600m yearly into SADA and this could have bridged the gap between the North and South.

Second, let's count the number of flyovers Mahama claims to have built in the Southern part of Ghana and compare them to the road network in the North, especially the 50km Bolgatanga-Bawku road. This is a complete insult to the people of the North. As for the level of youth unemployment in the North, I won't talk about it because he once lamented that, there would be zero tolerance for Kayaye in our major cities and this has become a mirage.

Is it also not surprising that, Mahama, the 'lover' of Northerners could not find any of the beautiful Northerners to marry, but rather settled on Lordina in the South? No wonder he often says he is the 2nd Kwame Nkrumah because this man also neglected the beautiful Ghanaian woman for an Egyptian.

Aside this, you would all agree that the most dominant religion in the North is Islam. However, Mahama, the man who claims to love Northerners was not converted: he rather thought Christianity was best for him.

Again, Yendi is in Mahama's home region, but for nearly eight years in the helm of affairs as Vice President and President, Mahama has not found the killers of Ya Na against all the promises the NDC made not to talk about the water the people drink. Even as I write now, peace has eluded the people of Bawku as they continue to live under curfew.

Besides, as a 'lover' of the North, one expected Mahama to choose his running-mate from the North, but it took a Southerner to do that. The saddest thing is that, during election time, Mahama will erect big billboards in the North; buy akpeteshie and pito for the youth, put them in pick-ups, give the innocent supporters party t-shirts to dance to Shatta Wale's songs. He will then tell them, vote for me because I am a Northerner; NPP would dump Bawumia etc and he says this as if NDC has no message.

The question that begs for an answer is; what is preventing Mahama from talking about his achievements in the Northern part of the country after attending school free, being an Assembly Member free, getting both deputy and substantive ministerial appointments free, getting a wife free, being a Vice President free, being a Caretaker President free, and being the President free?

Although, I have a 'weak mind' to appreciate the impact of infrastructural facilities and social amenities - road, hospitals, schools, piped-borne water etc as the president once said in opposition, I, Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang would like to know Mahama's real achievements in the North and I guess you too.

Fellow Ghanaians, let's not base our votes on tribalism because it has the tendency to divide our front as Ghanaians; let's look at the person who has the country at heart and has the willingness and capacity to build it not only for the current generation, but the generations unborn.

I believe that Ghanaians are poised for a change of political leadership on December 7 and nothing can stop that. Let's all get involved to put an end to tribalism, mediocrity, violence and corruption for Ghana deserves better!

God bless Ghana! God bless Nana Akufo-Addo!! God bless Kufuor!!!

"Vision, coupled with persistency, results in true success"