Harvest time for electorate. . . As NDC heavyweights intensify campaign in North

Samuel Duodu & Zadok Kwame Gyesi Politics Nov - 10 - 2015 , 05:37 9 minutes read

Aspiring parliamentary candidates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Northern Region have intensified their campaigns.

Since the region is considered one of the strongholds of the party, aspirants stand a high chance of being elected as Members of Parliament (MPs) should they win the party’s trust at the primaries.

The Tamale Central, Tamale North, the Sagnarigu, Mion and Yapei Kusawgu constituencies are the areas to watch as where the primaries are going to be hotly contested.

The various constituencies are flooded with posters and banners of the aspirants with the view to wooing the electorate.

The hoisting of banners is also high in the Tamale Central Constituency where it is alleged that some candidates are paying for their banners to be hoisted at vantage points in the metropolis.

The hoisting of the political banners has now become a source of temporary employment for some youth in the metropolis who are cashing in on the desperation of the contestants.

Modus operandi

It is alleged that the youth deliberately hoist a big banner of one of the rivals to attract the attention of the other candidates who then pay them to either remove the banner of their opponents or hoist theirs in such a way that they would have more prominence.

According to some political watchers, the youth negotiate with the candidates before hoisting their banners.

Again, it is alleged that there is vote-buying going on in some of the constituencies, notably Tamale Central and Tamale North, but there have been counter claims.

The Daily Graphic has gathered that the postponement of the presidential and parliamentary primaries date from Saturday, November 7, 2015 to Saturday, November 21, this year was warmly welcomed by some electorate in the constituencies in the region, especially within the Tamale Metropolis.

They said the extended period would enable them to make more money from the candidates.

‘End-of-service benefit’

Some of the people who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity in the Tamale Central Constituency said “they see the money being dished out to them as payback time and an ‘end-of-service benefit.’”

According to them, some of the MPs, after they have voted for them, turn their backs on them and only come during elections to seek their votes.

“So we (electorate) see this period as a payback time”, they explained.

Meanwhile, oldies are not left out in the “end-of-service benefit” as it is alleged that some of the aspirants, especially in the Tamale Central and North constituencies, have secured MASLOC loans for them.

It is further alleged that the oldies are given GH¢300 each to start their own businesses.

Engineer vs lawyer

The contest in the Tamale Central Constituency will be very keen as it is between the incumbent MP, who is also the Minister of Roads and Highways, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, popularly referred to as Lawyer Fuseini, and Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu, who is also a Deputy Director of the Feeder Roads Department under Roads and Highways Ministry.

Alhaji Seidu, a Russian and English-trained engineer, is known affectionately in the constituency as Engineer Ibrahim.

The Daily Graphic has gathered that there is a strong feeling in the Tamale Central Constituency that Engineer Ibrahim could unseat the incumbent MP based on his popularity and support for the people in the area.

However, the teeming supporters of the two-time MP for the area, Alhaji Fuseini, are highly convinced that the minister will win the contest smoothly based on his performance and experience.

Another aspirant in the constituency is Mr Alhassan Abdulai, a banker. political watchers and the electorate do not consider him to be a strong contender but Mr Abdulai said he would spring a surprise come November 21.

7 Candidates

Seven candidates are also contesting in the Tamale North Constituency. They are Mohammed Abdul Salam, the constituency Secretary; Radio Gold’s Alhassan Suhuyini, the former Member of Parliament, Alhaji Abukari Sumani, and the immediate past Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr Abdulai Salifu.

The rest are Mohammed Nabila, the Director of the National Youth Council; Mohammed Abdullah, a former employee of the Ghana Education Service, and Mohammed Kamaldeen, Accountant, Tamale Polytechnic.

However, the contest is said to be between Alhassan Suhuyini and Mohammed Abdul Salam.

Abdul Salam is slightly ahead of Suhuyini, who is considered as a grass-roots man who has been with the people and some of the electorate believe “this is his time to be rewarded.”

Suhuyini, on the other hand, is believed to be amassing support based on his alleged link to the presidency.

Another contender, Alhaji Abukari Sumani, who lost the seat to an independent candidate in 2012, is also considered as a force to reckon with in the contest.

It is being alleged that Alhaji Abukari Sumani, was in the race to punish one of the aspirants whom he believed campaigned against him to lose his seat in the 2012 elections. This development might pave the way for Alhassan Suhuyini, who is a new entrant in the constituency, to sail through smoothly.

Sagnarigu constituency

The Sagnarigu Constitency is being contested by three aspirants. They are the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini; Hajia Boya Gariba, a consul to Dubai, and Mohammed Amin Abio, a youth employment coordinator for the Northern Region.

However, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini is tipped to retain his seat as the two other aspirants are “no match” to him, according to some of the electorate in the constituency.

Mion constituency

Another constituency that will be interesting to observe is the Mion Constituency which has six candidates contesting the incumbent MP, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan.

The other contestants are Mr Prince Ibrahim Tanko, Dr Mu-Awia Mohammed Zakaria, Director, School of Social Work; Mr Mohammed Abdul Aziz, Mr Alhassan Adam, Mr Abdul Jalil Bawa and Mr Munkalia King Zakaria.

However, the contest is between Dr Mu-Awia Mohammed Zakaria and the incumbent MP, Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan. Dr Mu-Awia is believed to have gone through the political mill of the NDC having been under the tutelage of seasoned NDC politicians in the region.

Dr Mu-Awia is also believed to have firm grips of the developmental issues in the area and the region than his contenders. Others also believe the advantage of incumbency will enable Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan to retain his seat comfortably.

Yapei Kusawgu constituency

The Yapei Kusawgu Constituency, popularly regarded as the gateway to the Northern Region, is another keenly contested seat in the region by three aspirants.

The aspirants are John Abdulai Jinapor, the Deputy Minister of Petroleum; Issifu Sualisu Be-Awuripe, former Chief Executive of Central Gonja, and Gamel Kewuribe.

At Yapei Kusawgu, political pundits alleged that Mr Jinapor was using rural electrification project to extend electricity to all areas in the constituency to gain votes.

It is alleged that he (Mr Jinapor) had extended electricity to even a hamlet with about six houses all in his bid to win the primary.

The electorate, who spoke to the Daily Graphic said Mr Jinapor was “very resourceful” as he had distributed free cook stoves and cylinders to them under the Rural Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Promotion programme.

However, Mr Bewuripe is also relying on his former position as DCE to canvass votes while Mr Gamel is also considered as a grass-roots person who could cause a stir in the elections.

he would spring a surprise come November 21.

7 Candidates

The rest are Mohammed Nabila, the Director of the National Youth Council; Mohammed Abdullah, a former employee of the Ghana Education Service, and Mohammed Kamaldeen, accountant, Tamale Polytechnic. However, the contest is said to be between Alhassan Suhuyini and Mohammed Abdul Salam.

Abdul Salam is slightly ahead of Suhuyini, who is considered as a grass-roots man who has been with the people for long and some of the electorate believe “this is his time to be rewarded.”

Suhuyini, on the other hand, is believed to be amassing support based on his alleged link to the presidency.

Another contender, Alhaji Abukari Sumani, who lost the seat to an independent candidate in 2012, is also considered as a force to reckon with in the contest.

It is being alleged that Alhaji Abukari Sumani was in the race to punish one of the aspirants whom he believed campaigned against him to lose his seat in the 2012 elections. This development might pave the way for Suhuyini, who is a new entrant into the race, to sail through smoothly.

Sagnarigu Constituency

The Sagnarigu Constituency is being contested by three aspirants. They are the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini; Hajia Boya Gariba, a consul to Dubai, and Mohammed Amin Abio, a youth employment coordinator for the Northern Region.

However, Alhaji Fuseini is tipped to retain his seat as the two other aspirants are “no match” for him, according to some of the electorate in the constituency.

Mion Constituency

However, the contest is between Dr Zakaria and the incumbent MP, Dr Alhassan. Dr Zakaria is believed to have gone through the political mill of the NDC having been under the tutelage of seasoned NDC politicians in the region.

He is also believed to have a more firm grasp of the development issues in the area and the region than his contenders. Others also believe the advantage of incumbency will enable Dr Alhassan to retain his seat comfortably.

Yapei Kusawgu Constituency

The Yapei Kusawgu Constituency, popularly regarded as the gateway to the Northern Region, is another keenly contested seat in the region by three aspirants.

The aspirants are John Abdulai Jinapor, the Deputy Minister of Petroleum; Issifu Sualisu Be-Awuripe, former Chief Executive of Central Gonja, and Gamel Kewuribe.