Tamale, Feb. 18, GNA - A leading Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has blamed the performance of the party in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions on some politicians from the area who forget the youth after being voted into power.

Mr. Edward Gumah speaking at the launch of the "United Elephant Club" (UEC) of the NPP in Tamale on Saturday noted that some politicians from the area after assuming office turned to be self-centred instead of concentrating on development to promote the welfare of the people.

The UEC formed in 1999 with 13 members but now has 500 comprising people of Akan, Ga Adangbe and Ewe decent resident in the three regions in the northern part of the country is aimed at broadening the support base of the party in the area.

Mr. Gumah urged members of the Club to get actively involved in the re-organisation of the party and to involve the youth in the activities of the party to enable it to win the 2008 elections. He noted that even though the NPP needed more voters to retain power, they should be wary of some people who would join for their selfish gains.

Alhaji Iddrisu Adam, acting Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, urged the executives of the Club not to concentrate their activities in the urban centres alone but to intensify their operations in the rural communities to explain the policies and programmes of the government to "win more souls" for the party.

"Let not your activities divide the people on party lines but rather use your operations to foster unity and peace in the region," he said, adding "we need patience and tolerance to satisfy our people".

Alhaji Adam advised the members to ensure that their activities did not conflict with the constitution of the NPP and asked them to collaborate with other NPP bodies to ensure the growth of the party in the regions.

He called on the youth to take advantage of the various financial interventions by the government and the banks to take loans to undertake and expand their business ventures. The Acting Chief Executive appealed to the people to register with the National Insurance Scheme, which took off in the Metropolis last November and to keep their surrounding clean to improve sanitation and good health.

Alhaji Abdul Rahman Salifu, Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, urged the members to be tolerant since "Party organisation is not easy it is only through unity that we can survive". Mr. Charles K. Gyamfi, Chairman of UEC, noted that the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) dominated the three northern regions and stressed the need for hard work to expand the base of the NPP. The 14-member executive include Daniel Otoo, Vice Chairman, Nana Boakye, Secretary, Kofi Ohene Akoto, Treasurer and Victoria Osei, Women's Organiser.