NPP takes aim at Mahama’s Upper East Tour over unfulfilled promises
Francis Bugase says President Mahama must fulfil outstanding commitments on education, roads, healthcare and employment instead of making new promises during the Upper East tour.
The NPP Communications Director for the Chiana-Paga Constituency, Francis Bugase, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama’s ongoing Resetting Ghana Tour, arguing that the President’s engagements in the Upper East Region have highlighted promises yet to be fulfilled.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Friday, August 14, Bugase said although the commissioning of the Paga Senior High School E-block was welcome, government must do more to address outstanding development needs in the constituency.
He questioned the President’s announcement that Paga Senior High School would be given boarding status, arguing that the necessary infrastructure must first be provided before the school can effectively operate as a boarding institution.
“If the president had given the school a boarding status, we should be seeing our children packing their materials to go and stay at the campus.” Bugase complained.
Bugase said the construction of boys’ and girls’ dormitories and a multipurpose dining hall, which the President has promised, would be necessary to make the boarding arrangement practical.
He accused the government of adding new promises without first fulfilling earlier commitments made to communities in the region, including promises concerning health, roads, employment and automatic postings for some professionals.
According to him, government should focus on completing projects such as the Agenda 111 hospital project instead of announcing additional commitments during the tour.
“We are not saying that the president coming into this country is something we should not welcome. We are saying he must deliver on the promises.”. He explained.
Bugase also criticised the President’s inspection of ongoing projects, including the laboratory complex at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, arguing that some of the projects had been under construction for several years.
He questioned why the President had not used the visit to address other pressing challenges facing residents, particularly the poor road network and the state of health infrastructure in the area.
On the Navrongo-Chuchuliga-Tumu road, Bugase said residents needed a durable road rather than temporary improvements made ahead of a presidential visit.
“I will be happy and gladly rejoicing to see that road constructed, not for a contractor to be given money to patch a hole for the president to be able to drive in.” He stated.
He maintained that the people of the region should hold the government accountable for its campaign commitments rather than simply celebrating presidential visits.
Bugase therefore called for greater attention to the actual development needs of communities in the Upper East Region, insisting that residents require completed projects and tangible improvements in their livelihoods rather than additional promises.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
