Accra, Jan. 16, GNA- Mr. Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City on Friday, said his humility and the untiring effort in getting development to people in his constituency are his trump card that would make him retain the Salaga seat.
Mr. Boniface, an Independent MP for Salaga in the Northern Region told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra, that his chances in the 2004 election are very bright considering his initiatives that had won various forms of support and brought numerous development projects, some of which are completed and with others still on going.
He said he personally sourced funds to the tune of about 4.1 billion cedis as at December 14, last year, from individuals and agencies to enhance the development of his constituency.
The Deputy Minister said 3 billion cedis of the fund was donated by Friends in Germany, a philanthropist, Mr N. Kaufmann to support projects at the Tamale and Salaga Hospitals and some clinics in the constituency.
He said the Government of Iran also donated about 100 million cedis to provide social and economic services for the people following an appeal he made to it The assistance has led to the digging of two hand-dug wells with pumps for Massaka, borehole for Dagambia, and the provision of grinding mill (corn and rice) machines for Kasawuripe-Kabadi.
Mr. Abubakar Saddique said a little over 167 million cedis had been utilized from his share of the MP's Common Fund as at December, last year, in support of numerous projects he initiated.
Among the projects were the extension of electricity to some communities, construction of teachers' quarters, provision of beds to some Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) and monetary assistance to some tertiary students.
He said he personally donated 50 pieces of solar lanterns to some communities, clinics and individuals.
In addition 200 million cedis was expended in putting up the Salaga Trade Facilitation Centre, designed to boost economic activities in the area.
He said, another support from his share of the MP's Common Fund had been utilised on Kayeriso clinic, a project, which is ongoing
"All these achievements coupled with the massive support that I enjoy from the people should be able to see me again in Parliament come next year as the people representative," he said. 16 Jan 04
