Four prominent members of the incoming government New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the northern region have intensified their lobbying to be appointed as the northern regional minister.
The four include a former Tamale metropolitan chief executive, a lecturer at the Tamale Polytechnic, a former Northern regional minister and a member of the NPP council of elders who is also an educationist.
Those aspiring to be the next chief executive of the northern region are: Prince Imoro Andani, former northern regional minister in the Kufuor administration, Alhaji Iddrisu Adam Yoggu also former Tamale metropolitan chief executive in president Kufour’s first term, chairman of NPP regional council of elders, Alhaji Mumuni Musah (Mima) and a lecturer at the Tamale polytechnic Dr. Clifford Braimah.
Sources say the lack of unity among the three Dagombas in the race would likely tilt the chance to a non-dagomba, Dr Clifford Braimah,
Deep rooted sources within the government told Zaa News that pressure is mounting on the eldest among the four to step down for a Council of State position. The four are said to be crisscrossing and jostling at the corridor of power of the incoming government to catch the eyes of the president-elect.
A high powered delegation including some Chiefs have met the president over the selection of the regional minister.
Highly placed sources within the party told Zaa News that bigwigs in the region are rooting for a regional minister who can keep the peace in the region, upright and manage the expectations of party foot soldiers as well as handle sensitive issues in the region perceived to be conflict prone.
Some ruling party activists who spoke to Zaa News said they would want a non-Dagomba to be appointed as regional minister because of previous experience the NPP government had in Dagbon.
“We don’t want any negative tag on our government this time around,” a communication member stated on condition of anonymity.
the lucky among them will be the forty-fith minister the region had since independent.
Regional balance and tribal sentiment of activist and opponents
Even though the President is making effort to meet the constitutional requirement of regional balance, his effort has questioned by minority National Democratic Congress over numbers in each region.
The president home region so far has 8 key ministerial appointment, Ashanti 9, Greatter Accra 3, Central region 2, Northern region 4, Upper West 1, Brong Ahafo 3 Volta 2, Upper East 2 and Western 2.
A glance through of the final batch of the President Nana Adoo minister revealed that only one Dagomba was among the 36 ministers.
This angered some Dagombas youth within the party who felt that, the president stab them at the back after they have manage to snatch five parliamentary seats in the region for the NPP in the December elections.
Hajia Alima Mahama- minister designate for local government ministry and MP for Nalerigu constituency, long ten spokesman for the then Presidential candidate for NPP Mustapha Hamid -minister designate-minister designate for Information, Dominic Nitwul for defence and Ibrahim Mohammed Awal-minister designate for Business Development.
Among the four are two are Mampusis (Mustapha Hamid and Hajia Alima), One Konkomba (Dominic Nitwul) and Ibrahim Mohammed Awal( Dagomba).
