PNC, DFP PREDICT IMPRESSIVE SHOWING IN UE (Daily Graphic, Monday, November 10, 2008 PAGE 15)

THE Upper East Regional Secretaries of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) have predicted an impressive performance for their parties in the up-coming elections.
Mr Issah Bogobire of the DFP predicted an impressive performance for his party in the parliamentary elections in the region whilst Mr Henry Fatchu of the PNC predicted a massive victory for the party.
Mr Bogobire who made the remark in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Navrongo said he was optimistic that the six candidates put forward by his party to contest in the parliamentary race would emerge victorious.
The DFP has so far filed to contest in six out of the 13 constituencies in the Upper East Region.
The candidates are Alhaji Imoro Yaro-Kano, a teacher for the Bawku Central Constituency; Mr Edward Alale Dahamani, a retired health worker for the Garu-Tempane Constituency, and Mr Ayeebo Budare , an agricultural extension officer for the Binduri Constituency.
The rest are Mr Robert A. Abiiro, a former Assemblyman for Dapooretindongo Electoral Area for the Bolgatanga Central Constituency, Madam Grace Akua, a health worker and a former NDC Constituency Women’s Organiser for the Talensi Constituency, and Madam Gifty Adzevu, a business woman for the Builsa South Constituency.
According to the Regional Secretary of the DFP, who is also a member of the National Executive Council if for nothing at all, the party was looking forward to picking the Bawku Central, Binduri and Garu Tempane District with ease.
“This is based on the hard work, coupled with the support and goodwill being enjoyed by the DFP in these constituencies,” he said.
He said in spite of some challenges such as inadequate logistics, the party had managed to prosecute a successful campaign in the region, and expressed the hope that this would be translated into votes, come December 7, 2008.
According to the Regional Secretary of PNC, Mr Fatchu , the PNC was hopeful of picking at least nine out of the 13 parliamentary seats available in the Upper East Region.
Mr Fatchu told the Daily Graphic at Bolgatanga that the rich backgrounds of the aspirants offering themselves for elections, coupled with the hard work put in by the candidates and the party were ample evidence of the preparedness of the PNC as far as this year’s elections were concerned.
Out of the 13 parliamentary seats, the PNC is contesting 12, leaving the Zebilla seat.
Incidentally, the Zebilla seat was won by the PNC in the 2004. The incumbent MP, Mr John Ndebugre, who won on the ticket of the PNC, is now contesting it as an independent candidate.
Leading the pack of the party’s candidates for the polls in the region is Alhaji Amidu Mamadu Sisala, who is vying for the Bawku Central Constituency. Alhaji Sisala, 52, is a GCE ‘O’ Level holder and farmer.
In 2004 he contested the polls alongside the likes of the late Madam Hawa Yakubu (NPP), Mahama Ayariga (NDC), Tiaban Kundima (CPP), Abubakar Ustarz (IND), and Sadat Amadu (IND). Out of a total of 38, 405 votes cast Alhaji Sisala obtained 333, representing 0.9 per cent. He is hoping to improve upon his performance this time round.
Next is Mr Cyprian Ayendago Azure, who is working hard to wrest the Binduri seat from the NDC for the PNC. Mr Azure, 46, is a teacher by profession. This is his first attempt at the slot.
Mr David Apasera is making a third shot at the Bolgatanga Central seat for the PNC. Mr Apasera, 46, a social worker, defeated NDC’s Simon Anyoa Abingya in 2000, retained the seat in 2004 and is fired up to win it again in this year’s polls.
In 2004, he obtained 18, 948 votes, representing 38.6 per cent of the total votes cast, to defeat the likes of G. A. Agambila(NPP), Mr Akolbire Opam Brown (NDC), Ms Evelyn Lamisi Anabila (CPP), Solomon Awuni (DPP), Julius Baba Amoshie (Independent).
Incidentally, Mr Opam Brown (NDC) and Ms Anabila (CPP) are still in the race for the seat in the December polls.
In the Bongo Constituency, PNC is putting up Mr Jacob Kofi Nsoh, 46, a teacher, who has a Bachelor of Education in Social Studies. He is making his first attempt at the seat. Only time will tell if he has what it takes to beat the crack line-up of aspirants contesting for the seat in the December polls, who include the incumbent, Albert Abongo(NDC) and the sitting District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Akurugu Asampana.
In the Builsa North Constituency, the PNC man for the job is Mr Thomas Akum-Young, 55, a business executive, who holds a Diploma in Financial Management. In 2004 he contested the seat and lost to Mrs Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia. He polled 5,657 out of the total of 19,009 votes cast. Interestingly, the two, together with other candidates representing other parties, are still in the race for the seat.
In nearby Builsa South Constituency, PNC’s man for the job is Mr Alhassan Azong, 43, a Management and Development Consultant. Currently, he is a lecturer at the Bolgatanga Polytechnic.
A 43- year-old social worker, Mr Francis Niaga Santuah, is contesting the Chiana-Paga Constituency seat on the ticket of the PNC. He holds a post-graduate degree in Communications and is set to face veteran Abuga Pele of the NDC and other aspirants for the mandate to represent the people in Parliament.
In the Garu-Tempane Constituency, Mr Tuyaab Haruna Mintar, 30, is contesting on the PNC ticket. He is a teacher and set to face stalwarts such as Dominic Azumah, the NDC incumbent MP and the Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari (NPP), in this year’s polls.
Dr Somtim Tobiga, a 59-year-old legal practitioner who failed in his first attempt to make it to Parliament in 2004 is back in the race for the Nabdam seat. In his previous attempt, he polled 1,002 out of a total of 11,128 votes cast against the likes of Boniface Gambila of the NPP and Moses Aduku Asaga of the NDC. Can he beat this same set of aspirants who are still in the race for the Nabdam seat? We live to see.
The former General Secretary of the PNC, Mr Gabriel Scott Pwamang, is making his third attempt at contesting the Navrong Central seat. Mr Pwamang, a 46-year-old lawyer lost the 2000 and 2004 polls and he is looking forward to upping his performance this time round. In the last general election, he polled 6,512 representing 20.6 per cent of the total votes cast.
Ex-Sergeant Peter Tasiri Azongo, a former member of the defunct Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) leads the PNC into battle for the Pusiga seat in this year’s polls.
Ex-Sergeant Azongo, 62, has a certificate in Agriculture and Industrial Mechanisation.
In the Talensi Constituency, new entrant, Dr Michael Wombeogo, a lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), concludes the list of personalities selected by the People’s National Convention (PNC) to contest as its parliamentary candidate.
In the 2004 elections, PNC filed in 10 out of the 13 constituencies and managed to win in two constituencies. They are the Bolgatanga Central and Zebilla constituencies.