Namangu (N/R), Oct. 14, GNA - Hajia Alima Mahama, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Nalerigu Constituency in the East Mamprusi District of the Northern Region, has urged people in the three Northern Regions not to fall for the misleading propaganda that the NPP was a Party exclusively for Southerners.

"If it were so, then Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who is next to President Kufuor, myself and the numerous other Ministers of Northern origin would have no place in this Government," she argued.

Hajia Alima, who is also Deputy Minister of Trade, Industries and President's Special Initiatives (PSI), was addressing a well-attended political rally at Namangu, near Gambaga.

She said the NPP administration was a humane and caring one that was committed to the equitable development of the entire country irrespective of ethnic or political considerations.

This, she said, was evident in the fact that, even though, the NDC won the East Mamprusi Parliamentary seat in the 2000 Elections, the NPP did not neglect the area when it assumed office.

She pointed out that during the past three-and-a-half years alone the area had received more physical development than in any other period since independence.

Hajia Alima cited the extensive network of feeder roads being constructed in various parts of the District to link up marketing centres, as well as the tarring of the eight kilometre Gambaga-Nalerigu main road, which she said was of great importance because of the location of the famous Baptist Medical Centre there.

She further mentioned the construction of new school buildings at Boku, Gambaga, Nalerigu, Samni, Langbinsi and Tangbinni and the establishment of weighing and nutrition centres in most villages in the area to combat infant malnutrition and the provision of boreholes and dams.

Other projects the Government had provided in the area in recent times were the Youth Leadership Training Institute at Nalerigu to offer vocational training to young school leavers and the provision of credit through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Fund to women's groups for income-generating ventures, she said.

Hajia Alima urged the people to return the NPP to power by casting their votes for President Kufuor and herself in the forthcoming elections, pledging to make the promotion of vibrant economic activity in the area her priority during the next four years if elected to Parliament.

The NPP Women's Organiser for the Constituency, Madam Ayi Pamusa reaffirmed the support of women in the area for the NPP, saying that in her village the purchase of school furniture by parents had become a thing of the past since the NPP administration began.

Hajia Alima also addressed similar rallies at Burugu, Langbina, Dagbiri-Boari, Nanori, Kulgona, Dabari, Sakogo, Wunzugu-Tinga and Kolinvai, among other areas. She interacted with chiefs, opinion leaders and party supporters. 14 Oct. 04