Kampoli dismisses claims of NDC neglect, highlights development interventions in Upper East

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Upper East Regional Communication team member and unopposed Regional Communications Officer aspirant, Casper Sunday Kampoli has dismissed claims that the party takes the people of the region for granted because of its strong electoral support, insisting that successive NDC governments have made significant contributions to the region’s development.

He said although the Upper East Region deserved more development, the NDC remained committed to ensuring that it received its fair share of national development.

Kampoli made these remarks in a statement responding to concerns raised by the Chief of Kotintaabig, Naab Bileehsong Lanwont Namoog, in a widely circulated video, in which the traditional ruler called on the NDC government to accelerate development in the region in recognition of its consistent electoral support for the party.

While describing the Chief’s call for increased development as legitimate, Kampoli disagreed with some of his assertions, particularly the suggestion that the NDC takes the region for granted because voters continue to elect its parliamentary candidates despite alleged poor performance.

He argued that the people of the Upper East Region had consistently made informed electoral choices based on their experiences with the various political parties.

According to him, constituencies such as Bolgatanga Central, Navrongo Central, Bawku Central, Builsa South, Tempane, Chiana-Paga, Binduri and Nabdam had previously elected Members of Parliament from opposition parties but subsequently returned to electing NDC candidates.

He maintained that the NDC’s dominance in all 15 constituencies in the region reflected the confidence voters had in the party and its performance.

Kampoli also disagreed with the suggestion that some incumbent NDC Members of Parliament should lose their seats to accelerate development, insisting that the MPs were working to secure their respective constituencies’ fair share of development.

On the argument that the NPP could not be held accountable for the region’s developmental challenges because of its traditional NDC stronghold status, he said every government had a responsibility to develop all parts of the country, irrespective of their voting patterns.

He cited the construction of the Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region under an NDC administration and the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy in the Upper East Region under the NPP as examples of governments extending development beyond their political strongholds.

Highlighting what he described as the NDC’s contributions to the region, Kampoli attributed the expansion of electricity access to rural communities and significant road infrastructure development linking the Upper East Region to other parts of the country to successive NDC administrations.

He also cited the establishment of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), which began as a campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS), as one of the party’s major development interventions in the region.

Turning to the current administration, Kampoli said all 15 Municipal and District Assemblies in the region were among the 150 pilot districts selected for the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative.

He added that all 15 districts were also benefiting from the government’s model 24-hour Economy markets.

He further highlighted the Adwumawura Programme, One Million Coders Programme, National Apprenticeship Programme and No Fee Stress policy as some of the flagship initiatives expected to create opportunities for young people and women.

According to him, the recently launched Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion Programme, alongside TVET and digital skills training initiatives, would provide financing and employable skills for hundreds of young people in the region.

Kampoli, however, acknowledged that more needed to be done to address the region’s developmental needs, noting that the party’s Members of Parliament were lobbying for additional development interventions for their constituents.

He expressed confidence that the NDC government would do more to improve the living conditions of residents, assuring the people that the party would not disappoint them.

Mike 105.3 FM I Navrongo | David Adapuna