Some leading members and financiers of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the northern region have accused the Vice President, Dr Mahamud Bawumia, the regional minister, Mr Salifu Sa-eed and the regional chairman of the NPP Mr. Abdul Fatawu Bugri Naabu of spearheading tribalism in government when it comes to appointments.
They describe the appointments as a rule and divide tactic being used by the vice president of the republic, but they point out that the tactic is sinking the image of the NPP and making the Akuffo Addo government unpopular in the north.
According to the disgruntled members, Mr. Sa-eed and Mr. Naabu are teaming up with Dr. Bawumia to look pass their miserable living conditions and neglecting several requests to for contracts and appointments.
A statement signed by Alhaji Adam Issifu, a known NPP financier, stated that they are having sleepless nights and the immense support they offered to the party, especially, the various youth groups in the region have since not paid off after the elections due to the outrageous attitude of the aforementioned individuals.
Alhaji Issifu said efforts to get attention at the presidency, to equally grab contracts and appointments to any institutions or agency have proven futile, adding that the regional minister being a compatriot to the vice president makes it elusive to get their issues resolve.
He wondered why they are being sidelined in the appointments of heads of institutions or board members, this he attributed to the fact that they don’t belong to a particular tribe or aren’t in the good books of the top party leaders.
Alhaji Mohammed Tanko one of the complainants said the fortunate appointees are using their portfolios to suppress the efforts of many in the region, and thus gambling with the offices they hold which according to him has frustrated core members of the party in the region.
“Under our own goverment and the party we suffered to bring to power, we have all of a sudden become laughing stock before our friends and relatives who thought our lives will automatically change since the 2016 flagbearer of the NPP dreams have been realized.”
He said because Mr. Naabu and Mr. Saeed continue to occupy their positions as party leaders, they always act to please the vice president by shortlisting some tribes for appointments while leaving the rest of the northern tribes.
He revealed that the recent appointments to some boards saw the likes of Mr. Mani Salifu appointed to chair the Petroleum commission board, Mr. Gbalana Badisoglo appointed to the Volta River Authority Board, Professor Nabila-GNPC, Mr. Imoro Ben Salifu appointed to the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Board and former northern regional minister under National Democratic Congress(NDC) administration, Salifu S. Nayina also appointed to Ghana Gas Board without the knowledge of the presidency.
He bemoaned that his peers who supported and sponsored the party before and during the electioneering year such as Major Sulemana Abukari the regent of Tolon, the regent of Mion and the regent of Gushegu Alhaji Ofa among others are equally highly educated and contributed immensely to ensure that the Party came to power but have been left out in many appointments made by government so far.
He further mentioned the likes of Mr Frances Tete, Alhaji Zabaga, Alhaji Joe Kadiri, Alhaji Baba Iddi, Alhaji Fuseini Ussif, Alhaji Meema, Alhaji Mahamadu Washington NPP Chairman and many others whose role in achieving victory for the NPP in the 2016 elections cannot be overemphasized, yet are left to their own fate after the elections.
He said they were the source of hope for the party’s base in the region in the 2016 general elections, and now that they being denied opportunities in the Akuffo Addo government with appointments and contracts given on tribal basis. The NPP in the north he warned, is on the verge of collapsing.
He predicted that if urgent attention is not given to the issue at hand, the party will not have a united front and financiers in the 2020 elections.
According to him Mr. Naabu has not done enough to support them to obtain appointments and further convey their predicament to the president.
“We called Chairman Naabu several times to intervene since he is father of the party in the region, and has the power to ensure that contracts and appointments are squarely given and distributed to party members without considering tribal or religious lines.
What he always tells us is to submit our application to the minister and the vice president, but still nothing good is happening, if you are not in their good books or from the Mamprugu land just forget it, mean while we have reliable source that Chairman Naabu him self doesn’t not get any board membership or any contract from the party in the region.”
Minister unaware
When contacted, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Sa-eed told Zaa News he has never met anyone over appointment to state corporations and agencies boards.
Mr. Sa-eed said he is not aware of issue like that from any financier of the party.
The NPP regional chairman and his aide did not respondto our calls and messages to ascertain the variety of the claims made by the party financiers. The office of the vice has not also responded to Zaa radio’s text massages for official response to the accusations leveled against the second gentleman of the country.
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