Garu MP urges constituents to work for progress(D/G Monday, January 26,2009 Pg. 15)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Garu
The Member of Parliament for Garu-Tempane in the Upper East Region, Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah, has called on his constituents to bury their political differences and work together towards the development of the area. Mr Azumah who was speaking at a victory get-together organised by the Garu-Tempane Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Garu to celebrate the party's victory in last year's general election, noted that peace and unity in the constituency were the important ingredients for development and urged the people to come together to fight poverty and underdevelopment. Mr Azumah on behalf of President J.E.A. Mills, extended his appreciation to the electorate for voting massively for the NDC. He mentioned cattle rustling, lack of dams and dug-outs for agricultural purposes, lack of potable water, bad roads as some of the challenges facing the district and promised to lobby the appropriate sector ministries for more resources to bring the problem under control. Mr Azumah said in addition to providing educational materials through his share of the common fund, he intended to extend his support to the District Education Directorate by funding them and helping them to organise more mock examinations for final-year junior high school students in the district to prepare them adequately for their final examinations. He praised the previous government for instituting the National Youth Employment Programme, which, he said, contributed to creating some kind of employment for the youth, majority of whom were unemployed. “We in the NDC do not intend to scrap that programme but work hard to improve and expand that programme to ensure that more of our youth are engaged. Mr Azumah noted that considering the positive impact the District Assembly Common Fund was making he will not hesitate to appeal to the President to critically examine the fund and if possible gradually increase the fund to about 10 per cent from the current seven per cent. This will empower the district assemblies as more resources will be channelled there, he said. He assured the electorate of the government's commitment to fulfil its campaign promises but appealed to all to be patient while the government puts in place the necessary structures for a smooth start. The Constituency Chairman, Mr Dominic Akudago, commended the supporters for their hard work which enabled the party to emerge victorious in spite of daunting challenges. He assured the people that the right process will be followed in the selection of qualified persons to fill the position of DCE and pleaded with the electorate to rally behind whoever will be selected for the accelerated development of the district. The Constituency Women’s Organiser, Madam Rose Lariba Adakurugu, encouraged women in the constituency to mobilise themselves into groups, open account with banks in order to access micro-finance to boost their business. Two defeated candidates in the parliamentary race in the constituency, Messrs Tuyaab Haruna Mintar and Dahamani Edward of the PNC and DFP respectively, pledged their support for the MP and promised to work closely with him toward the development of the area. According to Mr Dahamani, “the NPP introduced a class society which was detrimental to the development of the nation. We therefore have a duty to support President Mills to repair the damage caused.”