NDC Parliamentary Candidates in East Gonja sure of electoral victory

Accra, Nov.15, GNA - Candidates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the East Gonja District of the Northern Region have down played any major opposition to their bid to win the two seats for the main opposition party in Election 2004.

Mr Jerry Draman Jackson, Former District Chief Executive, and the Parliamentary Candidate for Salaga and Mr Tawiah Likpalimor, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpandai, who is seeking re-election, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra, on Monday that they would exploit the development track record of the NDC to ensure electoral victory in the December 7 polls.

Mr Draman accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of toying with the development legacy the NDC Administration left the District. "The Peace and security the NDC left the East Gonja District is under threat... and I am ready to bridge the gap to facilitate accelerated development."

Mr Draman said if voted as MP, he would use his share of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) to rejuvenate education and get more teachers into the schools.

"It is on record that I was the first to launch an educational endowment fund in the country, during my tenure as the District Chief Executive," he recollected with smiles.

"As MP I will also promote transparency in the formulation and execution of development projects."

Mr Draman called on all stakeholders in the General Election to strive for peace, political tolerance unity and free and fair polls needed to deepen the country's fledgling democratic process.

Mr Likpalimor told the GNA that he had been the MP for Kpandai since the inception of the 1992 Constitution and his achievements over the years would give him an edge over his two main challengers from the NPP and an Independent Candidate.

"I am 100 per cent sure that I am going to make it," he said confidently.

Mr Likpalimor said he had been able to unite the people in the Constituency and made Local Government effective.

He said he had provided potable water, electricity, health facilities, schools and other development projects to the area through his share of DACF and through collaboration with development partners.

"I have spent over 35 million cedis on small town water supply systems and been in the forefront to attract health and other personnel to Kpandai."

Mr Likpalimor expressed the need for the three candidates in the Constituency to create a common platform to show goodwill towards each other to create the right atmosphere for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.