My victory will not bring any tribal war -Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday, called on the people of Mamprugu to ignore rumours, fear and panic making the rounds in Mamprugu area that a victory for him in the December polls would create conflict between the Gonjas and Mamprusis.“The National Democratic Congress’ political tradition is a nationally accepted one, and we will not discriminate against any ethnic group, individuals or group of professionals. And I will like to appeal to all of you to disregard the rumour with the contempt it deserves,” he said. President Mahama, who was addressing the chiefs and people of Walewale in the Northern Region, as part of his five-day campaign tour of the region, wondered why such allegations should be leveled against him at a time he was fighting for national unity, peace and development. The President would also visit Gambaga, Nalerigu, Bunkpurugu, Nakpanduri and Yunyoo, where he will meet the party hierarchy, address mini-rallies, and interact with the people. He urged the people from the northern sector of the country to channel their energies towards the elimination of poverty, ignorance and disease, rather than pay attention to negative tendencies that had the potential to undermine the unity of the country. “As a politician, I do not see people as Frafras, Mamprusis, Gonjas and Kasenas, but I see them as Ghanaians who need to fight hunger, poverty and illiteracy that have retarded our development programmes over the years.” President Mahama pledged to take up measures that would stem the perennial drift of girls from Mamprugu to the urban areas for menial, and sometimes, non-existent jobs. “My worry, as President of this country, is not to superintend over conflicts and confusion, but to create opportunities for every Ghanaian to harness his or her potential to contribute meaningfully towards the growth and development of this country.” He announced that 50 tractor service centres would be established in the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority zone to provide tractors, combined harvesters and other necessary implements and equipment for farmers to maximise production. Wungu Naba, Alhaji Sulemana Saaka, commended the government for providing the area with numerous development projects in the last four years. He appealed to the government to provide the area with a Nursing Training College, as an antidote to the refusal of nurses to accept postings to health facilities in Mamprugu.

Earlier on Wednesday, President John Dramani Mahama said the government would continue to build on the progress it had over the years in the advancement of porters (kayeyei) in the cities.

He said in a bid to stem the drift of young girls from the northern sector to the southern sector to engage in the practice, the government, in collaboration with the Council for Technical and Vocational Enterprise Training, had started training the porters in hairdressing and dressmaking.

The beneficiaries, he explained, would be made to return home to train others and dissuade them from moving to the urban areas for non-existent jobs.

President Mahama announced this at Nanton in the Northern Region when he addressed a mini-rally, as part of his five-day campaign tour of the Northern Region.

He also called on the Gulkpegu Naa, Dakpemah Naa, Bug Lana, Lameshegu Lana, Sheik Bayan, sagnar Naa, Nyankpala Lana, Tolon Regent, Kumbugu Naa, Nanton Naa, Yoo Naa, and visited the Central Mosque, Ahmaddiyya and Afa Ajura mosques, and addressed students of the Business Senior High School (BISCO) in Tamale.

The President condemned his political opponents for advocating the construction of hostels, as that action could perpetuate the movement of young girls from the North to the southern areas of the country.

He challenged the New Patriotic Party to come out to point to the people of Nanton what they did for them in their eight years of governance, adding, “It is the NDC that has provided clinics, schools, electricity, and will continue to support Nanton and other communities in the country, to realise their social and economic potentials.

President Mahama said apart from the programmes, adequate measures had been put in place to make education accessible, affordable, and acceptable at all levels and locations.

On electricity, President Mahama said the perennial load-shedding would become a thing of the past by the end of 2012, as the government was gearing up to add more power to the current facilities that would empower the country to be self-sufficient and a net exporter of energy.

The chiefs and communities were unanimous in commending the government for the provision of school, health and electricity facilities, and appealed to the government to continue to support them in the areas of roads, potable water, and sanitation facilities.

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