Sidique to join NPP, if ...

Mr Boniface Abubakari Sidique, Independent Member of Parliament for Salaga Constituency has said, with the support and trust he has received from the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), if he would join any party for the 2004 parliamentary elections then it would be the NPP.

"This is because we fight and go forward not backwards, however my decision would be made in June this year', he added.

Mr Sidique who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Tuesday said he has the support of the people in his constituency and was therefore, very sure of retaining his seat.

Mr. Sidique, who is also a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry said, "I was optimistic because one determines his strength by his weight and although I believe it is the mandate of the people in the constituency to decide who to vote for, I am sure they will wish to retain me than any other person.

He said it was just a few elements in the NPP in the constituency who think they could overpower him and are making such baseless allegations.

These people, accused Mr. Sidique of not visiting his constituency and that he was sowing seeds of discord among his constituents.

The statement is said to have been made at a press conference held by nine ward Chairmen of the New Patriotic Party in the Kalpe area of the East Gonja District of the Northern Region.

Mr Sidique said since he won the seat he has been of great help to his people, which they themselves could attest to, especially the students in the tertiary level.

"I have also initiated some developmental projects in the consituency and has maintained a very cordial relationship with the people in the area.

"I visit the constituency very often and listen to the problems of the people and do all I can to alleviate the level of poverty facing them,"he said.

Mr. Sidique said he had just managed to get a number of roofing sheets and bags of cement which would be given to some primary schools in villages like Talkpa, Sualihiya, Adevukpe, Jamtuto, Makango Day Nursery, Kinkili, Kulpi, Kpolo and Boja where children still sit under trees to learn.

Mr Yusuf Ahmed, a member of the constituency said the main object of those individuals is to undermine the laudable work of the MP in the constituency and thus deprive the people of progress and prosperity.

He said the latest baseless allegations followed a pattern of political chicanery which had become the stock-trade of political opponents of the MP in the constituency.

Mr Ahmed said the performance of the MP since his election to parliament speaks for itself, adding that even the visits alone by the MP to his constituency were unprecedented in the political annals of the constituency.

He said the dynamism, effectiveness, kind and caring gestures of the MP has made his political opponents not only jittery and uncomfortable.

" They are hell-bent in employing negative and divisive tactics to achieve their goal."

He called on the constituents to lend their support to the incumbent MP who he said, was working tirelessly to improve the welfare of the people.