NPP Has Northerners At Heart...MP Buttresses Statement With Proof

The rumpus going on between suspended National Chairman, Paul Afoko and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the opposition New Patriotic Party has been reduced by followers of Afoko as pure hatred for northerners in the party.

According to the group, the suspension of Paul Afoko trumpets the tribal card that the NPP is “Akan Party” which abhors the inclusion of non-Akan people in the party.

But Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson in an interview with Peacefmonline.com has indicated that there are evidence to show that NPP has northerners at heart.

Setting the records straight about Northern inclusion in NPP government, Hon. Hawa Koomson recounted that after former President Kufuor won the 2000 election with his supposed Akan people, the following people from Northern orientation were appointed to serve in his government:

1. Alhaji Aliu Mahama (late)- Vice President
2. Alhaji Mustapha Ali Iddris- Minister of Works and Housing
3. Alhaji Yakubu Malik- Minister of Interior
4. Alhaji Issah Ketekewu- Deputy Minister of Northern Region
5. Ben Bukari Salifu- Minister of Northern Region
6. Adam Mohammed Amin Anta (PhD)- Deputy Minister of Northern Region
7. Hajia Alima Mahama- Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs
8. Hon. Doris Asibi Seidu- Deputy Minister of State
9. Hon. Boniface Abubakr Sadique- Minister of Works and Housing
10. Hon. Charles Bintim- Minister of Local Gov’t and Rural Development
11. Hon. Rita Tani- Deputy Minister of State
12. Hon. Alex Seidu Sofo- Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport
13. Prof. Kasim Kasanga- Minister of Environment
14. Hon. Moses Dani Baah- Deputy Minister of State
15. Hon. Ambrose Derry- Regional Minister of Upper West
16. Hon. Rashid Bawa- Deputy Minister of Sports
17. Alhaji Inusah(PNC)- Minister of Sports
18. George Hika Benson- Deputy Minister of State
19. Shahanoon Muktari- Minister of State
20. Hon. Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia- Deputy Minister of Upper East Region
21. Hon. Joseph Kofi Ada- Minister of Energy
22. Major (rtd) Sulemana- National Security Advisor
23. General (rtd) Joshua Amidu- National Security Coordinator
24. Andrew Awuni- Presidential Spokesperson
25. Hon. John Jabaah Benam- Deputy Minister of State
26. Leo Kabah Alowe- National Coordinator, NYEP
27. Alhassan Samari- Regional Minister Upper East
28. Hon. Boniface Gambila- Deputy Minister of State
29. Alhaji Majeed Haroun- Deputy Minister of Mines
30. Hon. Hawa Yakubu (Iron Lady)- Minister of State

Hon. Hawa Koomson, however averred it is imperative to note that there is a Constitutional injunction on the appointment of ministers of State as it stipulates that majority of the ministers must come from Parliament.

The NPP MP for Awutu Senya East reminded that at the time her party NPP won the 2000 elections, the number of MPs from the three Northern Regions were woefully inadequate; thus the NPP 2000 Parliamentary results from the North were that her party recorded 3 MPs from Northern Region, Upper East recorded 2 MPs and Upper West, NPP had no MP.

In spite of this poor statistical showing of the NPP in Parliamentary election in the 2000 election, Hon. Hawa Koomson stated her supposed NPP led “Akan party” was able to appoint a significant number from the North as ministers of state without any parliamentary status.

She again stated that the appointments didn’t include Ambassadorial positions and members serving in the various Boards.

Hon. Hawa Koomson therefore dared the ruling NDC under the late President Mills-Mahama and Mahama-Amissah Arthur government to emunerate the number of ministers of state with Northern orientation that will be more than 35 despite their numerical strength in Parliamentary election.

In conclusion, she challenged what she described as NDC propagandists to come out to counter the records she has put out; reiterating that the NPP’s campaign will be based on programmes and developmental track records.

She stressed the 2016 elections will not be based on chieftaincy and tribal politics which sought to divide the nation.