The National Women\u2019s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba, has called for fairness and transparency in the distribution of relief items to residents of Sodom and Gomorrah, a community within Old Fadama.<\/p>\n
She explained that the provision of transport and an amount of 200 Ghana cedis being distributed to each of the displaced residents by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) should be based on fairness and not on religion, ethnicity and political affiliation.<\/p>\n
Madam Djaba, therefore, described as wicked and sad, reports from some stranded residents, mainly women and children, that they were being discriminated against because they were not affiliated to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).<\/p>\n
The NPP National Women\u2019s Organiser spoke to Daily Graphic yesterday after the 2016 presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, came to the rescue of 53 stranded residents of Sodom and Gomorrah.<\/p>\n
Nana Akufo-Addo, after learning of their predicament, donated cash of GH\u00a25,000, being the cost of hiring a bus to take them to the north, and subsequently to their respective homes.<\/p>\n
Madam Djaba explained that the residents, who had earlier gathered at the Nima residence of the NPP flag bearer, in his absence, moved to the NPP headquarters in search of assistance.<\/p>\n
She said upon hearing the news, and moved by the plight of the residents who were largely made up of women and babies, Nana Akufo-Addo immediately went to the NPP headquarters and interacted with them.<\/p>\n
While interacting with them, he learnt that most of the residents affected by the demolition exercise had, literally, been abandoned by the Mahama government, with the excuse that they were members of the NPP.<\/p>\n
He condemned the alleged discrimination that had been employed by the government officials towards them, stating that: \u201cThis is not how a country is governed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nana Akufo-Addo stated that: \u201cThis is an issue that has affected Ghanaians. There is no need, whatsoever, for the segregation of residents into \u2018NPP\u2019 and \u2018NDC,\u2019 as is being done by government officials. This is not right. What has happened is not pleasant, but it has already occurred, and I urge you to take heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201cOnce you have decided to go home, please do well to make a living for yourselves. I pray for travelling mercies for you, and may God be with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The National Women\u2019s Organiser of the NPP, Otiko Afisa Djaba, who was also present, was tasked by the flag bearer to ensure a bus was arranged to enable the 53 to return home safely.<\/p>\n
According to Madam Djaba, part of the amount was also used to buy water and bread for those who were not fasting to eat while on board the bus for the journey to Tamale.<\/p>\n
She noted that the NDC, as social democrats, should treat all citizens equal especially people from the rural areas where the people were already at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n
She said they had to move from the rural areas to the urban centres, because of the lack of jobs, good roads, schools and markets where they could stay and contribute their quota to nation building.<\/p>\n
She said it was the onerous responsibility of the government to provide welfare to every Ghanaian in times of hardship and danger irrespective of political affiliation.<\/p>\n
She said corruption should be uprooted, adequate jobs and infrastructure should also be provided to stem the tide of rural\/urban immigration of the youth in search of greener pastures.<\/p>\n
She stressed that President Mahama, who is from the north, should have set a good example by using public funds to cater for the welfare of the people in Old Fadama.<\/p>\n
Madam Djaba said the government should not look on while the residents of Old Fadama are been discriminated along ethnic, religious and partisan lines .
\nShe therefore urged the President to call NADMO to order by asking them to treat all the residents who have been affected by the demolition exercise equally.<\/p>\n
According to the NPP National Women\u2019s Organiser, when the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, heard their story he had to come to their rescue.<\/p>\n
According to Madam Djaba, the 53 were being discriminated against because they were not affiliated to the NDC in the Old Fadama area.<\/p>\n
She said as a result, the 200 Ghana cedis pocket money distributed to the affected residents and bus to take them back home were denied the 53 by NADMO officials,<\/p>\n
She accused NADMO of tagging them as \u2018NPP supporters\u2019 and refusing them transport to go home even though the residents were desirous of returning to the north.<\/p>\n
She said the residents, who were from Savelugu, Kumbungu and Tolon, had been left to their own fate; they have congregated at the National Headquarters of the party in search of assistance.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Graphic Online<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The National Women\u2019s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba, has called for fairness and transparency in the distribution of relief items to residents of Sodom and Gomorrah, a community within Old Fadama. She explained that the provision of transport and an amount of 200 Ghana cedis being distributed to each […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":131113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[17],"yoast_head":"\n