The Employment and Labour Relations Minister and MP for Tamale south, Mr Haruna Iddirisu has appealed to the people of Nanton constituency to vote massively for its incumbent member of parliament, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, who some perceive as running shoulders above his senior colleague.
The labour minister who was the guest speaker at the campaign launch of the Nanton MP on Saturday entreated voters in the constituency not to make mistake and lose Ibrahim Mr Murtala as a legislator.
“I worked very closely with Hon. Murtala as minister for trade before our senior colleague Dr Ekow Spio Gabra came to the ministry and I can promise you that he has the tenacity for purpose, he was committed to made in Ghana goods because he believed that was what will create more jobs for the youth in Ghana,” Mr Iddrisu said amidst cheers .
Mr Iddrisu’s appearance at Zogu cluster of schools park put to rest the perceived bitterness between him and Mr Murtala.
The two ministers, though they may not have any disagreement, but their hang-songs succeeded in creating some form of disaffection culminating in innuendos fueled by the hang-songs.
The latest unhealthy relationship between the two government officials reportedly raised its ugly head at Walewale in the west Mamprusi district of the northern region during the regional minister campaign launch a week ago. At the said event, the deputy minister was reported to have ignored the labour minister which angered Mr Iddrisu.
However many party supporters who heard the announcement made by the Nanton legislator’s campaign team that his supposed enemy was the guest speaker at his campaign treated it with all contempt it deserved until the labour minister known in political cycles the Maradona of northern politics mounted the podium and touted Mr Mohammed’s credentials and contributions to his former ministry of trade and industry.
According to the labour minister, Mr Mohammed is one of the MPs who has the development of the northern region at heart and the people in the Nanton constituency cannot afford to lose him in the next parliament. “The president doesn’t want any MP in parliament from Nanton constituency but Mr Mohammed,” Mr Iddrisu told the large crowd of party supporters.
The labour minister did not mince words in his attack on the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in differentiating the NPP and NDC manifesto. The difference between the NPP and the NDC manifestos is that, while the NDC manifesto is based on programs, NPP one is based on illusive promises, Mr Haruna said.
The Tamale south legislator also disputed NPP claims that youth unemployment in Ghana is 47 %, adding that it can’t be true today, it can’t be true tomorrow and in future, while reiterating government promise that 400 youth will be employed under the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
