By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
Former President and Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 election, John Mahama, has paid tribute to the late NDC Chairman for Lambussie Constituency, Alhaji Zakaria Saana Dramani.
He expressed the sentiment when he joined the family of the late NDC Chairman at Hamile to commiserate with them. Early on, the NDC Flagbearer was in Gwollu in the Sissala West District to offer his condolences to people on the demise of their Paramount Chief, Kuoru Kuri-Buktie Limann.
The Paramount Chief of Gwollu, who responded to a higher call on May 2, 2024, will be laid to rest on June 29, 2024, in Gwollu.
Former President Mahama’s itinerary also saw him in Jirapa for him to greet the family of the late Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Cosy Hotel, Eric Johnson, who was killed on February 11, 2024, and was buried on June 1, 2024.
Mr Mahama praised the memory of the late NDC Chairman of the Lambussie Constituency who died on May 23, 2024, for the new vibrancy that he brought to bear on the activities of the party in the constituency.
He said: “Chairman Zakaria’s death came as a shock to all of us because we had interacted with him during the Building Ghana Tour. Before that, when I came on tour campaigning for the Presidential primary for the NDC, I met him, and he was very active person. He had brought a new vibrancy to the Constituency and he assured us that he was going to claim the Lambussie seat back for us. But, as it is said, God knows best; He gives and he takes.”
The NDC Flagbearer regretted that the NPP government has run the country aground with propaganda and stressed the necessity for Ghanaians to rescue the country from the NPP in this year’s elections.
“This election is not the usual election between the NDC and NPP; this election is an election between the people of Ghana and the NPP. And I know that the people of Ghana will win this election. Because in the short space of seven and half years, this country has been brought to its knees, and we are dealing with a government that believes in propaganda,” Mr Mahama noted.
The NDC Flagbearer observed, “Hamile is a border crossing point, a very important commercial centre and yet somebody goes around saying that they have done more roads in the history of this country than any other government. Just look at the road that goes to Techiman, all the trucks carrying goods to Mali and Burkina Faso pass on this road. Successive governments did that road until it was complete. Every year, we used to do routine maintenance on the road to patch the potholes. Since this government came seven years ago, look at the Wa-Sawla road, look at the Bole-Bamboi road, look at the Bamboi-Techiman road, all in a deplorable state. And when the President or the Vice President comes here and they raise it, they behave as if they didn’t know. Oh, ok, we will talk to the Minister for Roads. When are you going to do these roads? Six months more, definitely you are not going to touch the road,” Mr. Mahama observed.
The nephew of the late Alhaji Zakaria, Alhaji, was extremely thankful to Mr Mahama for coming to mourn with them in Hamile, saying the NDC Flagbearer’s gesture has lessened their sorrow and pain as bereaved family members.
Alhaji Mohammed said Allah should answer their prayers for Mr Mahama to win the presidential race on December 7, 2024, in order to enable him to continue his good work as the number one gentleman of the country.
Former President Mahama also inspected the progress of work on the Piina Dam Rehabilitation Project, which is being financed by him and some partners.
The Paramount Chief of Lambussie, Kuoru Issaka Zeng’eh Kazie Tenjie, who made an appeal for the rehabilitation of the Dam during the NDC Flagbearer’s Building Ghana Tour, was very thankful for the project.
The Project Engineer, Asaa Akunai Abunkudugu, who updated Mr Mahama and his entourage on the progress of the work, said they were happy to be associated with the project. He pointed out that before the inception of the rehabilitation work, the dam had been broken into four sections, with the longest section measuring about 30 metres wide.
Mr Abunkudugu said the broken sections have been fixed. He added that it is believed that the first spillway got broken because it was not effective, but now it has been widened while the sideslope is being worked on to make it fit for purpose.
The project engineer announced, “the freeboard which was less than one metre is now almost two metres, so we believe that no matter the kind of rain that comes, this wall will stand for a long time.”
