President John Dramani Mahama’s hometown is on fire because the president has not nominated the local Member of Parliament (MP) to be appointed as a Minister of State.
Yesterday, angry members of Bole’s ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) protested against Mr. Mahama for allegedly failing to follow through on his pledge to appoint Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, the MP for Bole-Bamboi, as a minister.
The irate youth set fire to car tires in front of Mr. Mahama’s father’s house, trashed local properties, and threatened to set fire to the local NDC office if the MP’s pledge was not kept.
A few days after eight NDC thugs were shot dead and numerous more injured in Obuasi, President Mahama’s inability to keep his promises to NDC supporters is causing turmoil in his hometown.
Following the decrease in the number of government ministries from 29 to 23, Mr. Mahama recently completed the nomination of 26 ministers for the newly established ministries as well as a few ministers of state at the presidency.
The NDC youth in the Bole-Bamboi Constituency were incensed that the MP’s name was omitted from the list.
Despite promising them a ministerial seat during the campaign, the youth contended that President Mahama failed to select any Bole members, including their late MP, Joseph Akati Saaka, to his first ministry and is set to repeat his acts.
They asserted that they will not stand by and watch as the President uses and dumps them again.
In the meantime, a few constituency residents have called the situation embarrassing.
“Any action by NDC youth in Bole will only embarrass President John Dramani Mahama in the eyes of Ghanaians,” said Mr. Mahama Haruna, General Manager of Bole-based Nkilgi FM, adding that everyone in the area had anticipated the MP would be appointed a minister.
On his part, Yusif Sulemana, the Bole-Bamboi MP, has urged the youth and citizens of the constituency to refrain from any kind of disturbance and to maintain peace.
The MP expressed everlasting trust in the former President’s leadership and judgment in a statement released yesterday, reinforcing his undying devotion to President Mahama.
He urged his supporters to put unity and progress first and to support Mahama’s “reset agenda.”
“I kindly appeal to the youth and people of Bole-Bamboi to remain calm and refrain from any form of agitation in my name.
“As a loyal and devoted brother of H.E. John Dramani Mahama and a firm believer in his wisdom and experience, I wholeheartedly support his decisions,” Mr. Sulemana urged.
He reaffirmed his dedication to working for his people’ interests regardless of his position and assured them that their concerns would not be disregarded.
Mr. Sulemana also urged everyone to follow the law and warned against any behavior that would damage the constituency’s name.
He urged everyone to support Mahama’s vision for the country, saying, “Please, do not take the law into your own hands or engage in actions that could bring embarrassment to us all.”
Source: newsthemegh.com