The chiefs and people of Mo and Bamboi Traditional Areas in the Northern Region are up in arms against Vice President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of reneging on a major electoral promise he made to them during the 2008 electioneering campaign, in return for electoral support for the ruling National Democratic Congress.

According to a petition signed by Nana Kwaku Dapaa II, Paramount Chief and president of North Mo Traditional Council, and Nana Tebalakala, Gyaasehene of South Mo Traditional area, Mr Mahama promised do everything within his power to ensure a creation of new district for the area if they supported the then opposition NDC to return to power.

According to the petitioners, for the three consecutive times that he was the Member of Parliament of the area, Mr Mahama always reneged on the promises he made to them and now continues to do same even as Vice President.

There are therefore calling on the Vice President to show some honesty and find a way to fulfill his electoral promises, cautioning that they would “advise” themselves during the 2012 elections if Mr Mahama failed to make good his electoral promises.

The chiefs recalled that in the run-up of the 2008 general elections, then running mate John Mahama promised the people at a rally that if the NDC came to power, Bamboi would become a district.

They added that their hopes were, therefore, badly shattered when the names of the newly created district were announced recently, with Bamboi conspicuously missing from the list.

The petitioners bemoaned the fact that assembly members from Bamboi have to travel all the way to Bole, 100 miles away, to attend meetings of the District Assembly.

Chiranquah Emmanuel, secretary of the Bamboi Youth Association, told our reporter in an interview that the denial of the people of Bamboi their own district was very unfortunate, adding that the failure of Mr Mahama to fulfil his promise had shown he is not as committed to the development of Bamboi as Bole, where he hails from.

According to Mr Chiranquah, Vice President Mahama will be badly disillusioned if he thinks the people of Bamboi will always vote for the NDC whether he and the NDC meet their electoral promises or not, warning: “Only a fool would allow his testicle to be trampled upon twice.”