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The National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Anbatayela Mornah, has expressed optimism about winning the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency parliamentary seat in this year’s election.

The seat has remained a stronghold of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and is currently occupied by Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin. 

In an interview in Wa in the Upper West Region (UWR) after a campaign tour of the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency last Saturday, Mr Mornah described Mr Bagbin as having outlived his usefulness of how to improve the lot of the constituents. 

He expressed surprise that after 24 years of his uninterrupted tenure as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, the constituency, which doubles as one of the oldest in the region, was way behind most of the newly created districts in terms of  social amenities and infrastructural facilities.

Projects

In 2012, the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District  was carved out of the Nadowli District after which Kaleo was added to it to become the Nadowli-Kaleo District. 

However, Mr Mornah claims that apart from the Nadowli to Duong road which was tarred at the instance of Mr Roger Angsomwine, a Secretary to the Cabinet, to date not a kilometre of road had been tarred.

He also said no financial institutions nor a higher or tertiary institution had been established all these years in the district. 

He further pointed out that there were no job opportunities for the teeming youth of the area who had been condemned to life-long poverty. 

Worrying situation

The PNC chairman said the situation was more worrying considering that a large proportion of the youth in the working age were either unemployed, underemployed or earned inadequate income to support their dependents.

He said the region, which also abounds in numerous tourist attractions, colourful festivals and traditional and modern arts and crafts, , would be able to create  employment avenues for the people, but had been neglected for these resources to go waste as a result of poor leadership. 

He also mentioned tourist attractions, such as the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary, Gwollu slave defence wall, Wuling mushroom-shaped rocks, George Ekem Ferguson’s tomb, traditional textile industries (smocks) and other annual festivals that could be developed to create wealth for the area.

“All these, I will take bold steps and make sure that they are activated among others to recapture our lost glory and sustain the cultural institution, identity, self-respect and pride to create wealth and alleviate poverty,” Mr Mornah said.

Yearning for change

There is clear evidence that the people are tired of Mr Bagbin and are yearning for a change, and these are what I promise them,” he emphasised.

On the chances of the party during the parliamentary elections in the region, he said the PNC was sure of capturing 60 per cent of the seats. 

Countrywide, he said; “We hope to do better than before.” On the proposed merger with the Convention People’s Party (CPP), he said the hope had been dashed. 

He, however, indicated that with the PNC flag bearer, Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, himself as the National Chairman and the devoted youthful and dynamic executives,  the PNC was out to chart a new course with the aim of making itself extremely successful in contemporary politics.

PNC fortunes

The fortunes of the PNC will be enhanced with the battle cry of  “New beginnings, New Deal, New Force.” The party is battle ready for election 2016,” he stated.