Pelpuo Shines In Constituency Amidst ‘Rebels’

The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Rashid Pelpuo has, through the 'Better Ghana Agenda', laid a solid foundation for the Wa Central constituency in the Upper West Region since he became a Member of Parliament (MP) in January 2005. He has within the period, spread development projects across the constituency affecting every nook and cranny. This came to light when a group calling itself “The Friends of Rashid Pelpuo”, organized a press conference in Wa, the regional capital, to throw light on the achievements of the MP.

The spokesperson for the group, Mr. Atto Iddrisu said a survey conducted revealed that some constituents do not seem to be aware of the achievements of the MP since he entered Parliament. He said there was therefore the need for them to make known these significant achievements of the MP.

Mr. Iddrisu said one area that the MP has done so much was in the area of education.

According to him, the MP has given financial support to needy students to the tune of about one thousand four hundred Ghana cedis so far. And has also provided television set to Wa Polytechnic SRC.

The MP, who is also a former minister of youth & sports, has also given an amount of one thousand Ghana cedis to the Wa Municipal Education for supervision and monitoring of projects under its care and supplied the education directorate with a fax machine, Mr Iddrisu pointed out.

On community development, the spokesperson said the MP has given Tabiesi community some building materials and constructed office accommodation for Radio Upper West, a GBC regional FM station.

He hinted that the Wa Central MP is working seriously to assist the communities of Kpongu and others for the supply of electricity. He indicated that the MP has also given solar street lights to thirteen communities within the catchment areas of the constituency.

On water supply, the group said Hon. Pelpuo is collaborating with the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing and so far, they have been able to access a credit facility of thirty-two million US dollars for the provision of pipe borne water from the Black Volta for the Wa township.

The MP, according to the group, has also taken the trouble to pay the salaries of some volunteer teachers in his constituency to the tune of five hundred Ghana cedis each month and has supported farmers, women groups and other unionized groups within the constituency.

Mr. Atto Iddrisu sounded a note of caution to those who, he claimed, are spreading rumours that Hon. Rashid Pelpuo will not stand again as MP in 2012 to desist from such an unfounded speculation.

He stated that as per the NDC's constitution, until national executives give the regional executives the go ahead to organize parliamentary primaries, no individual within the party has the right to go round campaigning against the sitting MP.

He therefore stated categorically that they as concerned constituents would want the sitting MP to continue to represent them in Parliament to in order to enable him take his good works in the constituency to higher levels.

The group also appealed to the good people of the constituency to resist any attempt by any group of people to roll back the clock of progress set in motion by the sitting MP, Hon. Rashid Pelpuo.

For some time now there have been agitations on the quiet against the third bid of Hon. Abdul Rashid Pelpuo as the MP for the Wa Central as it has been alleged that some NDC supporters are hell-bent in blocking the MP's next bid to represent the constituency in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the MP has so far not given any indication that he will not stand come 2012.

Several people The Catalyst interviewed said the MP should be allowed to continue since he has proven his mettle to be a very capable and competent MP and thus has so far done so much for the constituency.

However an “NDC rebel” who expressed anonymity in an interview with the paper said the continuation of Hon. Rashid as an MP would mean a violation of a 'gentleman' agreement he entered into with the party in 2004 that he would give way after two terms in the august house as the representative of the Wa Constituency.

As at the time of going to bed, we were unable to reach the Deputy Minority Leader for his comments. Your authoritative, The Catalyst, is still monitoring the situation and will in its subsequent editions, bring to you any developments on the matter.