Tamale, March 25, GNA - A political youth group within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tamale has appealed to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to consider nominating Alhaji Mohammed Nurudeen Dauda Jawula as his running mate.

The movement, calling itself the "Movement for Self Reliance", said Alhaji Jawula had all the qualities to partner with Nana Akufo-Addo to enable the NPP to win the December general election with ease. The youth group in a statement issued in Tamale on Tuesday and signed by it's President, Mr Ishmael Nuhu, described Alhaji Jawula as "a team maker, reconciliator and a unifier" who could marshal massive votes from Northern Ghana for the NPP.

The statement said: "We support calls and suggestions from various circles that Alhaji Jawula be used as running-mate for Nana Akufo-Addo for the December elections."

It said Alhaji Jawula cuts across all sections of society including the sporting fans, and expressed the hope that the NPP presidential candidate would not downplay the role sports could help in unify Ghanaians.

The statement indicated that Alhaji Jawula and Nana Akufo-Addo were a perfect match and a good combination to rule the country for the next eight years.

Alhaji Jawula, the statement said, had served the people of Northern Ghana in particular and the country as a whole, more than any other citizen from the north in various capacities and had left positive footprints in all the areas he had served. The statement said Alhaji Jawula's position, as a chief (Lepowura), would also give the NPP more votes since traditional rulers would want him to occupy such a high office of Vice-President to address their interests.

"Lepowura is one man who is affable, industrious and above all, listens to the plight of the poor, the young, the old and the rich. "All these are qualities that have earned him the respect he enjoys in the three Northern Regions," it said.

The statement noted that as a sports administrator, Alhaji Jawula has a major role to play to win the hearts of sports enthusiasts adding that he could use his position as Vice-President to develop sports in the country particularly, in the North.