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Some youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Madina Constituency have threatened to vote against the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, in the 2016 general elections for failing to honour his promises to them.

The youth said Alhaji Sorogho promised, among other things, to create drains and tar all the roads within the Zongo community, which he has failed to fulfil.

Alhaji Sorogho first won the seat in 2004 and has since been representing the people in Parliament.

“Ever since he won the 2012 parliamentary elections, I have never set eyes on him,” an angry resident, Dawud Jibril, said. 

Many of the residents around Ritz Junction said the MP promised to fix the prolonged water crisis, which has still not been done.   

In contrast to the incumbent, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary aspirant, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, seems to be enjoying some popularity among the electorate.

Alhaji Boniface is a former Member of Parliament for the Salaga Constituency in the Northern Region. He lost the seat to the NDC in the 2008 elections and failed to get it back in 2012. 

Contesting the Madina seat for the first time, the former Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing in the Kufuor administration, said at the inauguration of his campaign team for the election at the premises of the Social Welfare Department, that is confident of snatching the seat from the NDC in the upcoming election. 

“My message is going down well with the people. The door-to-door campaign I’m using has proven to be very effective,” Alhaji Boniface said. “It has pushed my main opponent, Alhaji Sorogho, to also go door-to-door, something he has never done in previous elections.”

Most of the people interviewed said although they will vote for the NDC presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, they will vote for Alhaji Boniface for the parliamentary seat. 

“Our minds are made up. Sorogho doesn’t do anything for us. We are going to vote for Boniface,” another resident, Abdul Basit Ishaq said.

Some of them say they are confident Alhaji Boniface will make good on his promises. 

“Alhaji Boniface is a hardworking man. We saw what he did when he was a Minister and MP during the NPP regime, so he will deliver if we vote for him,” Rukaya Seidu said.

Alhaji Amadu Sorogho is, however, unfazed by the challenge posed by the opposition candidate and the threats from the youth. 

“I believe I have served my people well and I’m confident they will retain me as their MP on November 7 this year. Next week I will come out with my version of the Green Book and everyone will see what I have been doing over the years,” Alhaji Sorogho said.

According to the incumbent MP, he has done a lot for the constituents over the years, including the construction of a number of classroom blocks across the constituency, building of the Madina Polyclinic, buying an ambulance for the Kekele Clinic, building an ICT centre at Nkwantanang and constructing drains at Libya quarters. 

He added that he organised Best Teacher Award for teachers in the constituency, offered scholarships to students, offered job opportunities for the youth in the constituency, and has so far distributed over 50,000 exercise books and some textbooks to schools in the constituency.

Alhaji Sorogho said he has fulfilled most of his promises to the people, hence none of his supporters would vote “skirt and blouse”.

“Water is flowing frequently now at Madina Zongo and a lot of projects have been executed across the constituency. Boniface will get the shock of his life in this election,” he said.