Yendi (Northern Region), 1 March, '99 --
Yendi (Northern Region), 1 March, '99 -- Vice President Professor John Atta-Mills, has stressed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) "remains a party that seeks the welfare of the country, and is not the sole preserve of any individual or group of persons". Supporters of the party must therefore work hard to retain the party in power to continue to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of Ghanaians, he said. The Vice-President said this at the inauguration of the Yendi branch of the Veranda Boys and Girls Club of the party. Professor Atta Mills commended the people of Yendi for helping to restore peace to the area after the 1994 ethnic conflict, adding that, "we need peace and stability for development". Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, presidential advisor on governmental affairs, said government has this year earmarked 35 billion cedis for the maintenance of roads in the Northern Region. About nine billion cedis out of the amount would be spent on Yendi township roads and the Yendi-Tamale road. Mr Kwamina Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said under the World Bank sponsored urban five projects, Yendi, Bimbilla and Zabzugu have been listed to benefit from roads rehabilitation projects. Mrs Shirley Ayittey, vice-chairperson of NDC advised parents to send their children to school to help minimise the migration of young girls to the cities to engage in menial jobs. Mrs Faustina Nelson, vice-chairperson of NDC and founder of the Veranda Boys/Girls Club welcomed those who have defected from the opposition political parties into the fold of the NDC. She said the NDC is the only party that can develop the country and everybody has a role to play in it. During a courtesy call on Ya-Na Yakubu Andani the second, Professor Atta Mills announced that the government is considering the list of divisional chiefs the Ya-Na proposed for elevation to paramouncies. Ya-Na Andani praised the government for providing a number of social amenities in the area.