Asiedu Nketiah in 7 constituencies of Upper East Region on 'Thank You Tour'

The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah will commence a tour of the Upper East Region from April 27. The visit forms part of ongoing internal party engagements aimed at strengthening grassroots mobilisation and consolidating political support ahead of future elections.

The tour will take him to seven constituencies. These are; Talensi, Nabdam, Bolgatanga, Bolgatanga Central, Builsa North and Builsa South. The engagements are expected to include meetings with constituency executives, polling station coordinators, and local party faithful, with a focus on reviewing party structures and strengthening internal cohesion.

The objective of the two-day tour is to network with the grassroots of the party, appreciate their contribution to the victory in the 2024 elections and to find out their concerns for redress. It is also intended to provide a platform for open dialogue on challenges affecting party organisation at the local level.

He will also use the opportunity to rally their support for government and renew their interest in helping the party retain power after the 2028 elections. Party strategists view such regional tours as key to maintaining momentum and ensuring consistent engagement with supporters across the country.

So far, the National Chairman of the NDC has been to the Western, Central and Ashanti and Upper West regions. These visits have been marked by meetings with traditional leaders, party executives, and community stakeholders, focusing on governance updates and party restructuring efforts.

In the Upper West Region, he issued a stern warning to party members against any attempt to tamper with or conceal electoral registers ahead of upcoming branch elections. The warning comes amid internal processes aimed at reorganising the party’s grassroots structures nationwide.

Speaking at Boli in the Wa Central Constituency while rounding up his ‘Thank You Tour of the Upper West Region, Asiedu Nketiah cautioned that the party leadership has secured comprehensive data backups of its membership registers, making any attempt at manipulation futile.

“We are going to do branch elections. Those who are in custody of our registers and think they can manipulate them should be careful. We have all the data on our computers,” he stated. His remarks were intended to reinforce transparency and discipline within the party’s electoral processes.

He assured the chiefs and people of the Upper West Region that they will not be left behind in the Reset Agenda of the John Dramani Mahama-led administration. The “Reset Agenda” is a policy direction focused on infrastructure development, economic revitalisation, and improved public service delivery.

According to him, the development needs of the region have been catered for in government’s plans. He emphasized that regional equity remains central to the administration’s development strategy.

“We are confident that you will receive a fair share of the national cake,” Mr Nketiah said on April 21 during an interview on the newly established Lambussie FM. He used the platform to reassure residents of government commitment to inclusive development.

He assured that “we will live by every promise we made during the campaign to the good people of Upper West. And I believe that by the end of the four years, Upper West will be better than it was in 2024. Already, we have selected some of your major roads in the big push.” The “Big Push” initiative refers to large-scale infrastructure investment projects aimed at accelerating national development.

He added that “We want a road directly from Hamile to Bolga so that it makes life comfortable for everybody, including those of us who have been campaigning. We are already planning to replace the Wa Air Strip, relocate it to a better place and do it properly to the standards of a very good airport. And there are many other things that will follow.” These proposed projects are part of broader efforts to improve transport connectivity and regional accessibility.

“We are also working on the main road that links Upper West to the rest of the country because of the deplorable nature of the road and the sheer length of the stretch. That’s why we’ve divided it into lots so that several contractors will be working to ensure that we can finish it in two years,” he revealed. The strategy is aimed at accelerating project completion timelines through multiple contractor engagement.

The NDC’s National Chairman said the party is very grateful for the support shown by the people of the region over the years. He highlighted the importance of maintaining strong ties between the party and its grassroots base.

“So, we thank you for the confidence shown in the Mahama administration. And we also intend to keep that relationship. And that is why I’ve come to demonstrate our gratitude to the region. We will not let you down,” Mr Nketiah further assured.