Bolgatanga, Jan. 10, GNA - The former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Election Task Force has commended the chiefs and people in the Upper East for supporting the party to win the 2008 election. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General designate, Mr. Martin Amidu, made the commendation through the Ghana News Agency after touring al= l the paramountcies in the Upper East to thank the chiefs and people in the area for their support.

Mr Martin Amidu stated that during the second round of the 2008 election he led an election task force made up of some party members from the Region to solicit for votes which led to the party securing 65.5 per cent of the votes. He recalled telling the Chiefs and people of the area that if they gav= e their support to the NDC Party it would appoint more sons and daughters fro= m the area into the Government, which the government had fulfilled. He stated that another area which he emphasized that government would fulfil was the implementation of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and said this had also become a reality as government had already passed the SADA Bill and inaugurated the Board. He said he had also told them that if they give the NDC the mandate it would construct and de-silt more irrigation dams in the area for farming especially during the dry season, to curb rural migration. "Plans are far advanced by the government to undertake such projects t= his year and very soon the lives and conditions of people in the Region would b= e transformed."

He indicated that more road networks and electricity would be provided to all parts of the Region to open up farming areas to enable farmers to cart their produce to market centres for sale. He added that more jobs would also be created by the government for many unemployed Ghanaians, especially the youth of which the people in the Region would have their fair share, and appealed to the people to continue to renew their mandate for the NDC party to continue with its good developmental projects.

The areas visited included the Bolgatanga, Bongo, Tongo, Paga, Nagodi= , Kayoro, Navrongo, Kedema, Fumbisi, and Sandema Traditional Areas. The Chiefs and people of those areas commended the government for appointing more sons and daughters from the Region into ministerial positions, and appealed for more development for the area. Mr Amidu was accompanied by the Minister of Information, Mr. John Tia Akolgo, the Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Donatus Akamugre and other Regional Executive members of the party.