Zuarungu (U/E), Nov. 21, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama has urged Ghanaians to renew the mandate of the New Patriotic Party NPP Administration to ensure that Ghana's socio-economic advancement in an atmosphere of freedom remained on course.

"We ask you to vote massively in the December Elections for the NPP because we have dutifully kept faith with the good people of this country in our efforts to reduce poverty and improve access to good health and education" he said.

The Vice President was addressing a grand durbar to mark the 'Ndaakoya' Festival of the chiefs and people of Zuarungu in the Bolgatanga District on Saturday.

He gave the assurance that another mandate for the NPP Administration would also guarantee the continuation of the enjoyment of freedom of expression, association and from excessive use of force by persons in authority and freedom from intimidation.

"We seek your mandate to build a prosperous knowledge-based economy in this next phase of positive change," he stressed.

"After four years every corner of this country has felt the NPP's wind of Positive Change. The concrete material evidence of solid progress is visible everywhere, new and improved schools, rehabilitated or new roads and hospitals, health centres, a more stable economy and reduction in interest rates".

Vice President Mahama said the people of Zuarungu had received their fair share f the "Positive Change" with the extension of electricity to most communities, the on-going construction of their roads and many more projects.

He, therefore, urged the people to use the festival as a platform to mobilise material, intellectual and financial resources to complement the government's programme to improve their standard of living. They should also actualise the theme of the festival:

"Strengthening our health needs" by joining the National Health Insurance Scheme introduced by the Government to maintain good health for productivity.

The people of Zuarungu turned up in their large numbers to mark Ndaakoya, which is a thanksgiving festival for a good harvest. Naba Charles Ayamga, Paramount Chief of the Zuarungu Traditional Area, said although the year's harvest fell below expectation, they still deemed it appropriate to be thankful.

He said his people were also appreciative to the NPP Administration for providing them with a Police Station, a market and other developmental projects.

Naba Ayamga said the confirmation of Emmanuel Atenga as Chief Fire Officer was dear to them as he was the first native of the area to head such a public institution.

He, however, appealed to the Government to provide them with more educational institutions, accommodation for health workers and to speed up work on the strategic agricultural road to the market, which had been awarded on contract.

Naba Ayamga also urged the Government to find strategic investors to revamp the Zuarungu Meat Factory to provide employment and hide to feed the Kumasi Shoe Factory.

Energetic young men performed a variety of cultural dances to entertain the people.

Mr C. K. Tedam, a Member of the Council of State, Upper East Regional Minister Mahami Salifu; Alhaji Sheriff Abass, Ghana's Ambassador to Guinea and other dignitaries, accompanied the Vice President.

Alhaji Mahama donated five million cedis to support Ndaakoya festival fund.