Mark Owen Woyongo (middle) upbeat about his victory during his campaign launch

Woyongo asks for 70 per cent from electorate

Vincent Amenuveve Politics Oct - 17 - 2016 , 09:47

The member of Parliament for Navrongo Central in the Upper East Region, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, launched his campaign in Navrongo last Saturday with a call on the electorate to give President John Mahama and himself more than 70 per cent of votes in the December polls to enable them to get a second term bid.

According to him, the fact that he and President Mahama had delivered on their campaign promises in the areas of health, education, electricity, roads and youth employment gave him a strong conviction that the electorate would vote massively for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the parliamentary and presidential elections.

Addressing teeming supporters of the NDC at the Centre of Sports (COS) park in Navrongo in the Kassena Nankana Municipality in the Upper East Region, Mr Woyongo posited that with every passing election, the electorate saw the potential in him, hence their willingness to increase his votes significantly, adding that they should do same this year.

Stewardship

In 2012, Mr Woyongo polled 17,907 votes, representing 53.16 per cent of the votes cast, while his closest contender, Joseph Kofi Adda of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), got 15,443 votes, representing 45.84 per cent of the votes. In 2008, Mr Woyongo got 13,224 votes, representing 41.7 per cent of the votes cast.

The MP further pointed out that "four years ago I pledged at my campaign launch that if the good people of Navrongo gave me the opportunity to represent them in Parliament, I would commit myself to making life more meaningful for them and help in the transformation of Navrongo".

He explained that years ago he identified the hardships many women in his constituency went through, especially in the dry season.

"I assured the people that providing them with potable water would be my priority and today more than 80 per cent of them have access to good drinking water through the provision of 132 boreholes which have given every village access to at least five boreholes and in some cases 14 boreholes per village, " Mr Woyongo indicated.

The MP observed that three small town water projects had also been provided at Biu, Kologo and Navro-Pungu to give the people potable water.

He said the President recently commissioned the $8.5 million Navrongo Water Improvement project intended to provide water to more than 100,000 people. Additionally, plans are advanced for the construction of a multi-million dollar water treatment plant at Tono to provide water for Navrongo, Paga and Bolgatanga.

"A Joint Cabinet Memo to that effect will be presented to Parliament for approval and implementation. I am assuring the few villages left to be provided with water that when President Mahama and I win the December polls they will get their share," he told the teeming supporters

The MP further stated that a conscious effort was also made to de-silting three dams at Doba, Tankuna and Yusu for agricultural and domestic purposes.

"Estimates have also been submitted for the de-silting of the Goo, Saboro, Bawiu and Nimbasinia dams. Work on these dams is expected to commence soon to offer jobs to the youth in the dry season during which tomatoes and other vegetables can be cultivated, “ he added.

Touching on roads, he mentioned the fact that the people of Gia and Nawognia now travel in comfort to their respective villages as they no longer crossed rivers to get to their destinations during the rainy season.

Work on the road from the Kandiga junction to Sirigu, which was suspended due to inadequate funding, is expected to start very soon.

Responding to cheers from the teeming supporters, Mr Woyongo further announced that the road from the Tono junction has been tarred while the road from Navrongo to Chuchuliga has been awarded on contract.

"A contract has also been awarded for the asphalting of Navrongo town roads and the tarring of the University for Development Studies campus roads while the 22-kilometre Navrongo-Naaga road has been awarded and work would start before the end of the year," he emphasised.

On health, Mr Woyongo mentioned the Kologo, Natugnia, Gongnia and Nayagnia health posts as being rehabilitated to improve upon the health of the people while new Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds have been constructed at Kapania, Punyoro Gumongo, Doba and Korania.

On electricity, the MP intimated that by the end of next year, more than 80 per cent of the Kassena Nankana Municipality would be covered under both the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP) and the Turn Key Contractors from South Africa (THENGASHEP) Programme.

On education, he said more than 100 computers and laptops have been distributed to junior and senior high schools in the constituency while in the last two years GH¢80,000 from the MP's common fund has been used to sponsor brilliant, needy students to continue their education in the second cycle and tertiary institutions. "Twenty-two primary schools and a number of senior and junior high schools have seen massive infrastructure development since 2009 when I was the Regional Minister and now MP," he stressed.

"I could go on and on elaborating the number of development projects but time would not allow me to do so; but suffice it to say that the rate of development in the municipality is unprecedented and so I want to assure you that I would strive to do more for the constituency if you give me the nod for a second term, "Mr Woyongo told the supporters.

OTHER PERSONALITIES

Other NDC party bigwigs that addressed the supporters were the Upper East Regional Minister, Dr Robert Kuganab-Lem; the MP for Zebilla, Mr Cletus Avoka; Mr Moses Asaga and Mr John Tia Akologo.

Actor John Dumelo and popular boxer Bukom Banku were also spotted at the campaign launch and the supporters gave them a rousing welcome.