The Chief of Kotintaabig, Naab Bileehsong Lanwont Namoog, has issued a warning to Ghana's National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, cautioning against taking the Upper East Region's electoral support for granted. He stated that if the party fails to address the region's development challenges, it risks losing parliamentary seats in the region. This warning comes after the NDC won all 15 parliamentary seats in the Upper East Region during the last general election.
According to Naab Bileehsong, the region's consistent support for the NDC should not be mistaken for unconditional loyalty, particularly when residents continue to raise concerns about inadequate development. He argued that the party's electoral dominance in the region appeared to have reduced the pressure on its leadership to respond to local development needs. The chief made these comments during an interview on A1 Radio's Daybreak Upper East programme.
The NDC's performance in the Upper East Region contrasts with its performance in the Upper West and Northern regions. Naab Bileehsong suggested that voters could consider denying the NDC five or six parliamentary seats in a future election to demonstrate that their support should not be taken for granted. He argued that such an electoral outcome would send a strong message to the party's leadership about the need to match political support with tangible development.
The chief maintained that residents of the Upper East Region had every reason to demand accountability from the NDC government, having consistently supported the party in successive elections. He also questioned how residents could place the same level of responsibility on the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration when the region had given the party comparatively limited electoral support.
Naab Bileehsong urged the NDC government to prioritise the region's development needs and ensure that its electoral support translates into improvements in infrastructure and public services. He emphasized that the region's development challenges must be addressed to prevent the party's support from weakening in future elections.
The chief's warning comes at a time when residents of the Upper East Region continue to raise concerns about inadequate development. He urged the media to hold authorities accountable over stalled development projects. The region's development needs are a pressing concern, with many residents calling for improvements in infrastructure and public services.
The NDC government's response to the chief's warning remains to be seen. However, the party's leadership is likely to take the warning seriously, given the region's history of supporting the party. The chief's comments serve as a reminder to the NDC government of the need to prioritize the region's development needs and ensure that its electoral support translates into tangible benefits for residents.
Key points
- The NDC risks losing 5-6 parliamentary seats in the Upper East Region if it fails to address development concerns.
- The region's consistent support for the NDC should not be mistaken for unconditional loyalty.
- The NDC government must prioritize the region's development needs to prevent its support from weakening in future elections.
