Opinions of Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Columnist: Concerned Patriots of Karaga

Responding To Falsehoods Peddled By Hon. M.P For Karaga

Press Release Responding To Falsehoods Peddled By Hon. M.P For Karaga Constituency-Alhassan Sualehu Dandawa On The 58th Independence Day Celebration At Karaga.

Ladies and gentlemen, it has become the norm of politicians, especially from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to deceive the public with phantom achievements or grandiose projects aimed at covering up their rather inefficient and corrupt administration which has brought untold hardships to the good people of Ghana. In trying to fall in line and not be left alone standing, the honorable MP for our constituency during the just ended Independence Day celebrations enumerated some projects he and the NDC has embarked upon since their coming into office. Our checks as patriotic constituents of Karaga have revealed that the Hon. Alhassan Sualehu Dandawa only tried to throw dust in our eyes, and that most of his acclaimed projects or achievements were overstated. Below are some reasons.

(1).The MP’s claim that the Karaga-Tamale road has been awarded for construction is not true. The MP couldn’t back that claim with any of the following evidences;
? The name of the construction firm
? Total cost of the project
? Funding agency
? Time line for the project
(2). He cannot be trusted because he said the same thing about this road on the occasion of 2014 Idr-Adha festival at karaga.
(3). Government didn’t award new contracts on the road sector in 2014 according to then road minister, Alhaji Amin Amidu.”The decision of government to freeze award of new contracts this year is to enable government settle arrears owed road contractors”. The question is, when did government award the contract for the Karaga-Tamale road (R90)?
(4). The 2014 state of the nation address delivered by H.E the president didn’t capture it. The 2015 revised budget statement presented to parliament by the Finance Minister Hon. Seth Tekper also failed to capture it. Now, the question begging for an answer from the Hon. M.P is; where will funds for that road contract come from since it is not captured in the budget or any other official government source if indeed it has been awarded for construction?.
(5). Karaga-Tamale road is not among the number of roads awarded for construction in N/R under Mills/Mahama 7 years in power. Roads under construction are;
? Buipe-Tamale (103.4km)
? Fulfoso- Sawla (80km)
? Tamale- Kumbungu
? Tamale-Salaga
? Daboya- Mankarigu
? Nyenkpala- Tolon/Tali
? Walewale-Gambaga (11km)
The latest one is the Eastern corridor road. Hon. M.P, where is Karaga-Tamale in all these documentations?
HISTORY OF THE SAID ROAD
In 2008, the then N.P.P government awarded the said road to Shiraco Investment at a total cost of GH39, 217,500. It was awarded under G.H.A periodic maintenance programme for re-gravelling. The contract was abrogated in 2009 under Hon. Joe Gidisu’s tenure as road minister citing poor performance.
ON THE PART OF NAMBURUGU RIVER. The Hon. M.P disclosed that, construction of a bridge over the Namburugu river is awarded for construction. All what we demand from Hon. is details of the project.
N.P.P ADMINISTRATION ACHIEVEMENTS ON THE SECTOR IN KARAGA DISTRICT.
Tarring of Karaga township roads
Constructed the following feeder road;
Shabo- Nyengbalo
Jamaga- Sakulo
Kuduli-Komoayilli
Kpinlanyilli- Asalifuyilli
Binduli- Monkula
Gaa- Tamaligu junction
Nyong-Tamaligu
Tong- Nyensabga
Takaligu Zandua
Nyingali- Nyansung
Footbridges were also constructed in some of the communities.
Nyingali, Zandua, Nyansabga, Monkula-Kupali, Karaga-Kupali



RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
The Hon. M.P said that he connected 24 communities to the national grid which is not true. By the time N.P.P exited from power in 2008, it had succeeded in connecting 7 communities to the national grid in the District. In November, 2007 35 communities were submitted to the Ministry of Energy to be connected to the national grid by the end of 2020. These projects were under the National Electrification Scheme (N.E.S) which was to be funded by China Water and Electrification (N.W.E). Therefore, the claim of the Hon. M.P that, he connected 24 communities to the National grid is not true. Credit for the 18 communities that were recently connected should be attributed to Hon. Baba Wahab of the erstwhile N.P.P Administration. The NPP government was so committed to rural electrification project that, the assembly purchased 700 high tension poles to get Langogu, Nyensabga and Zankali communities connected to the national grid.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, we will like to remind the Hon. Alhassan Sualehu Dandawa that the people of Karaga district and constituency are wise and none of his lies, deceptions and false projects will save him in the next elections. The only thing that can save him and the NDC from the wrath of the masses in 2016 is for them to produce tangibles from all the loans, taxes, donations and oil monies that have accrued to them. There is no indication that they are a competent and incorruptible people with the real desire to alleviate the plight of the masses. Therefore nothing will stop us Ghanaians and especially constituents of Karaga from booting them out of office. Thank you.
Source: Concerned Patriots of Karaga Constituency
PRESIDENT: Abdul-Wahab Latif 0208564568
SECRETARY: MUSAH MUTALA
ORGANISER: HUSSEIN ISSAH
WOMEN ORGANISER: HUSSEINI LATIFA 0200382837