The Flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party for the 2012 election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, has reiterated his commitment to ensure that the development and economic gap between the north and south of our country is bridged.
He said: "It is not good for the unity and cohesion of our country for such a gap to continue to exist between the north and south and that is why in 2008 I proposed the establishment of the Northern Development Authority, backed by a Northern Development Fund, to help accelerate the economic transformation of the three northern regions."
Nana Akufo Addo is in the Northern Region as part of his listening tour campaign. He had earlier visited the Upper West and Upper East regions.
According to a release from his campaign team, Nana Akufo Addo stressed, "I still stand by that proposal and if you help me and I get to the presidency, I will do it for you. Mine is not just mere political talk like what the NDC did. I am genuine about the transformation of the north and if I get the opportunity, I will serve you truthfully."
He said the NDC was not committed to the development of the north "and that is why when I proposed the Northern Development Authority, they quickly came out to condemn it. It was only when they realised that my proposal was gaining popularity, especially in the three northern regions, that they turned around to steal my idea and named it SADA."
Nana Akufo Addo added: "I'm glad you say yourselves that you haven't seen anything on SADA for the past three years. It is because they are not committed to alleviating your plight and suffering.�
He thanked them for their support and urged them �to work hard to ensure that the incompetent NDC government makes way for a more visionary and competent team in 2012.�
According to the release, the people of the Northern Region are not happy with the NDC government for what they say is a total betrayal and breach of trust.
"We were promised a lot by the NDC during the 2008 campaign. We believed them and so we voted for them. But after winning the election, the NDC government has completely forgotten about us," they said.
Residents of Gushegu, Limo, Galwie, Gaa, Kpatanla, Nawogu, Nankpanduri, among others, also shared similar sentiments with the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP.
At Nankpanduri, a community leader, Abass, 57, said he and his people were disappointed in the NDC and President Mills.
"He came and promised us that he will bring a programme called SADA and that will create jobs for us and reduce poverty but his term is almost ending and he has not brought this SADA here," he said.
At Gushegu, residents said life had gotten worse under the so-called �Better Ghana� of President Mills, vowing to show him the exit in 2012.
Residents of Bagri, like many other communities visited by the NPP leader, complained about lack of educational and health facilities. Inadequate irrigation dams, lack of potable water and electricity, youth unemployment and poor road network and many other problems were brought to the attention of the NPP flag-bearer.
The people pledged their support for Nana Addo and the NPP, saying "we want to see some improvement in our lives and we believe Nana can do that for us."
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