The Chiefs and Elders of Ablekuma Central constituency in the Greater Accra region have appealed to President John DramaniMahama to, as matter of urgency, assign former aide to deputy Chief of Staff, AlhajiHaliduHaruna, a role in his government.

According to the Chief and Elders the delay in assigning ‘responsibility’ to the ruling National Democratic Congress Communications team member has seriously affected his overall contribution to the development of the constituency.

In a press statement jointly signed by the Chief of Shukura, AlhajiHamidu Ibrahim; his Secretary, Ibrahim Seidu, and an elder of the constituency, AlhajiAbdullahiDanladi, they explained that the continued sidelining of AlhajiHurana in spite of his valuable contributions which enabled the NDC retain the Ablekuma Central seat, will serve as a disincentive to the young ones.

The statement noted “We wish to remind His Excellency the President that, before the elections in 2012, there were serious problems in respect to retaining the seat of the constituency. Members of the constituency were unhappy as whole with the kind of leadership that were given to them.”

Adding, “Committed members of the party within the constituency have to step in to salvage the situation by meeting at the Chief’s palace to resolve the problem that could have hampered the forward match of the party in the constituency.” They averred that after the election they expected the president would have assigned the one-time spokesperson of the Hajj Board a responsibility in his government, but a year and a half into the Mahama administration, AlhajiHaliduHaruna is “still jobless”.

“We see him as one who represents our interest and concerns and we therefore wish to draw the attention of His Excellency the president that the continuous silence on AlhajiHaliduHaruna’s appointment is discouraging many young men and women in the community including the Chiefs and Elders of the constituency from sacrificing for the party,” the statement added.

They quizzed that “If after all the commitment that he has shown for the victory of the party, he is still not considered then what will happen to those who look up to him?” According to them though they have made their concerns known to leading members of the party including a vice National Chairman, Mr Danny Annan, and Ismail Bawa, a former Member of Parliament for the constituency, they are yet to receive any positive response.

In defense of the one-time defeated parliamentary candidate aspirant, the statement noted “The community is appealing to the president and the party’s national executives, neglecting of people who have devoted much of their time for the progress of the party will serve as a disincentive to others not to commit themselves to the party.”