Daniel Ayine Nsohbila, Upper East Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government under President John Dramani Mahama of neglecting the Upper East Region despite the party’s complete sweep of the region’s 15 parliamentary seats in the last election.
Speaking on the Vom Y3lla Show , Nsohbila said the people of the region had given the NDC “so much” and therefore expected more in return. “We have given them 15 out of 15 seats. Now, does that come with the development we are getting? No,” he stated. He added that the region was receiving neither substantial nor even minimal development.
Nsohbila focused particular attention on the Kumbosigo Timber Market Project. He said the project was initiated under the previous NPP administration, awarded to Galvao, and advanced to about 95% completion before being halted by the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. Despite repeated assurances that the remaining work would be completed, the current government had failed to finish the final 5%, which includes sections linking the timber market to the Fire Service facilities. “Government is a continuation process,” he argued. “Yet you are still struggling to complete the five per cent upon promises upon promises.”
He linked the incomplete project and poor road conditions to a human cost, noting that lives had been lost in accidents along the stretch. Some families had been left without breadwinners, he said, and widows created by the neglect.
Turning to other flagship pledges, Nsohbila said a promised sports stadium had not progressed beyond talk. Land had not been acquired, and even plans to use an existing site remained unclear. On the regional airport, he recalled that President Mahama had personally promised a proper airport “not merely an airstrip” that would connect Bolgatanga to Kumasi and Accra within less than a year of taking office. The initiative, he claimed, had earlier been driven by local efforts involving Gabriel Agambila and others before government took it over. Officials had since cited ongoing feasibility studies even though funds had reportedly been allocated in the budget. “Something that you have factored in your budget… has suddenly turned into feasibility studies? Why are they deceiving us?” Nsohbila asked.
He also criticised the performance of the region’s 15 NDC Members of Parliament, describing them as non-performing and noting that few, if any, featured prominently in recent rankings. Many, he suggested, focused primarily on winning primaries rather than delivering for constituents. Road networks across the region remained in a poor state, he added.
Nsohbila accused the government of treating Upper East differently from other regions that also support the NDC, such as the Northern, Upper West and Volta Regions. He insisted that development should be separated from partisan politics and called on citizens to demand accountability regardless of party affiliation. He noted that even under previous NPP governments, some party members, including himself, had publicly criticised shortcomings when necessary.
“Let us fight for development. Let us demand accountability. Let us put Upper East first,” he concluded.
By Gayheart Abraham
Source: Mybluewavesonline.Com/ Maurice Duncan/ Bolgatanga
