By Mohammed Balu
Tumu (UWR), Feb. 08, GNA – The Sissala Youth Forum has appealed to President John Mahama not to overlook the people of Sissala in the formation of his ministerial team.
They said he must adhere to all inclusive governance by ensuring that a son of the Sissala was appointed to help facilitate the development of the area.
Mr Mumuni Sidiki, the President of the Youth Forum in a press conference organised in Tumu at the weekend expressed disappointment and regarding the lack of representation of Sissala individuals in the current formation of government.
He said, “We, the youth of Sissala land, are deeply disappointed and concerned about our lack of representation. Despite our trust in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), not having at least one of our sons in your ministerial team may weaken the strong following the party enjoys from the area.”
Mr Sidiki said the potential of the Sissala area cannot be over emphasised saying, “As one of the three major ethnic groups in the Upper West Region, we are the top producers of maize and contribute significantly to the agricultural sector of this country. We are perplexed however as to why our people have been overlooked when it comes to ministerial appointments.”
He pointed out that the Sissala population held a significant presence in five out of the eleven constituencies in the Upper West Region.
“We urge President Mahama to have a second look at the appointments and take immediate action to address our concerns. We seek meaningful representation for our people in government-not mere tokenism.
The Sissala Youth have been patient with the government during this window for ministerial appointments, but our patience is wearing thin,” he said.
The Youth Forum implored the President to collaborate with major stakeholders, including party leadership and traditional chiefs of the Sissala community, to meet their demands and avoid tarnishing his legacy.
Mr Sidiki said if a Sissala is appointed as a Minister or given a key position in government it will help build the NDC in the area into a more formidable party to reckon with.
GNA