Babile NDC women defect to NPP

Babile (U/W) Oct. 15, GNA - A total of 208 women in Babile and other surrounding villages in the Lawra District on Thursday organized a grand durbar to officially announce their defection from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The women, who were made up of 102 from the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM), 91 from the Muslim Women Association (MWA) and 15 from the NDC Women Movement at Kunyukon among other things stated that NPP was a party for the vulnerable and deprived in society, hence their departure from NDC to join them.

Hajia Kugbe Amadu, Babile Zonal Organizer of the 31st DWM, said although they did not vote for the NPP in the previous elections, the NPP Government had demonstrated selflessness and concern by providing them with electricity which they had been fighting for since a decade ago.

"We know that if NPP and Ambrose Dery should win this year, more development projects would come to drag us out of ignorance, illiteracy and disease," Mrs Amadu said.

Hajia Saweba Ibrahim, Leader of the Babile Muslim Women Association, said Mr Ambrose Dery, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, had supported them a great deal although he was not yet a Member of Parliament, adding that they would support him to win.

She explained that during the NDC regime they were deceived to use their own money for development projects, which was never replenished and expressed the hope that NPP would continue with the good works they had started.

Madam Shitu Amidu and Madam Hamidatu Iddrisu, Leaders of Kunukon NDC Women, who also defected, said in the previous years they were deceived to support the NDC.

They alleged that their appeals for school blocks were not heeded until last year when the NPP Government provided them with a Day Care Centre and a Junior Secondary School block.

Mr Ambrose Dery, a Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General, who is also the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Lawra/Nandom Constituency, thanked the women for their boldness. "That is all what democracy is about. The freedom to talk, choose and do what you want, which we shall pursue for the rule of law to be supreme".

He advised them against violence during the campaigns and promised to bring more development projects if he were given the mandate.