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The appointment of zonal coordinators for the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in the Northern Region has stoked fire among the New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in the region.

The appointment is said to be tearing the party apart as some concerned youth groups and women organisers of the party have vowed to resist any attempt to impose the zonal coordinators for the programme on the region.
 
The current confusion over the appointment of the zonal coordinators among supporters of the governing party is also said to be threatening the smooth implementation of the GSFP in the region.

Concerns

The concerned groups  which claimed they were displeased with the mode of appointment of the zonal coordinators for the GSFP, alleged that the zonal coordinators were handpicked for the six zones of the programme in the region by the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Afisa Otiko Djaba.

They further alleged that the minister did not have any consultations with the party or follow  due process in appointing the zonal coordinators for the programme and had, therefore, threatened to use all means to ensure that the “so-called  zonal coordinators” would not be able to work or discharge their duties of supervising the implementation of the programme in the schools.

The groups again alleged that the zonal coordinators, who are supposed to be the supervisors for the programme in the region, were themselves caterers under the programme and had, therefore, compromised their role and also undermined the smooth implementation of the programme in the region.

Concerned youth

The concerned youth and women’s groups also accused the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Saeed, and his Deputy, Mr Solomon Boar, who is also MP for Bunkpurugu, of not doing anything to address the issue which had led to the closure of the regional coordinator’s office of the GSFP.

According to the groups, until the appointment of the six zonal coordinators were revoked, they would continue to frustrate the implementation of the programme in the region and that the party would also not have peace until their concerns were addressed.

The groups, in a statement issued in Tamale last Sunday evening and signed by one Kamil, said they would ensure that the office of the GSFP would remain closed and that they would also move from school to school to stop all catering services in the region if their concerns were not addressed.

Petition

They, therefore, appealed to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to intervene to ensure that the proper thing was done as regards the appointment of zonal coordinators for the GSFP in the region since government appointees in the region had failed to address the issue which was affecting the unity and peace in the party in the region.

The groups said they had also petitioned the Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, and the Regional Council of Elders on the issue but were yet to get a response from them.

As of the time of filing this report on Monday, Mr Naabu was locked up in a meeting with the two groups to try and resolve the issue amicably for peace to prevail in the party.

Background

Earlier this year, the appointment of caterers under the GSFP in the region led to a sharp disagreement between the Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Naabu, and Madam Otiko Djaba which was later resolved by the Office of the President.

Since then, there has not been peace in the party in the region as regards the implementation of the GSFP.