Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), has appealed to the President to re-schedule this year's People's Assembly to enable the people of Northern Ghana to "interact with him" in his last People's Assembly this year.

"It is regrettable to note that since the inception of the People's Assembly, the President has never deemed it necessary to attend one in the North", the northern focused pressure group stated. The group stated: "This undoubtedly gives room for groups like NORPRA to feel that the President cares little about the people from this part of the country", the group said in a statement issued in Accra and signed by its president Mr Bismark Adongo Ayorogo It said the President could disabuse the minds of the people and prove their feelings wrong by appearing in one of the northern regions for this year's People's Assembly.

According to the statement, it was on record that during the People's Assembly, various burning socio-economic issues which affected the lives of the downtrodden were raised by people from various backgrounds, who had no other means of sharing their views with the President. It said these views were usually collated and indeed informed policy formulation for smooth running of the country and prudent management of the economy, adding that that was a plus for good governance. Considering the significance of the Assembly, "it is imperative that the father of the nation avails himself to the people of the North, majority of who are poor and vulnerable to meet with him personally for interaction".