The member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central Constituency of the Upper East Region, Isaac Adongo has expressed his disappointment over the role of the media in spreading what he termed “NPP propaganda” that Occasioned his party’s defeat in the 2016 election.

The opposition lawmaker who is vociferous and never shy of controversy, questioned why Ghanaian media was quick to believe all they were told without doing a “proper check” to ascertain the sincerity of the matter. Adongo cited the popular Guinea Fowl story as one example of “lies” used against his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Adongo denied the accusation against his party saying “The guinea fowl story was concocted by someone to disgrace Mahama, but you journalists believed without making any probe. It is the same way you believed the donkeys carrying fertilizer story.” The member of Parliament vented his disdain for such reports and narratives without any effort towards verification.

“You don’t just believe the frog when it comes out of the water to tell you the crocodile is dead. For all you know, it ran from a feud between the two.”
Honorable Adongo

In the lead-up to the 2016 Presidential Election, apart from acute power cuts that were hurting the economy and stifling productivity, corruption at the higher echelon of government was the most topical and concerning issue to Ghanaians. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) tapped into the anger and got massive votes in return.

SADA and the Guinea Fowl Tale

Since independence, successive governments have largely tried in one way or the order to bridge the developmental divide between the southern and Northern parts of Ghana with mixed results. The Savannah Development Authority was envisaged in 2010 and operationalized under the erstwhile NDC administration to address the developmental challenges of the Northern part of Ghana and some parts of present Oti, Bono East, and Bono West Regions respectively.

SADA was empowered to formulate and implement strategies and programmes that would hasten the socio-economic development of its catchment areas. The authority invested massively in agriculture to harness the full potential of the region, it was roiled with scandals and corruption allegations.

Following a fact-finding visit by journalists to Asongtaba Cottage Industry at Sumbrungu near Bolgatanga in the Upper East region, SADA made headlines when in response to the absence of the Guinea fowls under its care at the said location was purported that the birds have migrated to Burkina Faso.

It instantly made headlines and the NPP joined the jokes around it but also utilized it in their campaign message to capture power in 2016.

Later at another conference, the organization’s Chief Executive Officer, Charles Abugri retorted that the birds have begun migrating home. “I can announce that those guinea fowls are on their way back from Burkina because I ate a few in Bolgatanga a few days ago,”

Eternal Albatros

Same as then, corruption has proven to be more adept and resilient than the political to fight it. The current administration that succeeded the NDC has had its fair share of allegations, accusations, and exonerations. Meanwhile, Ghana’s performance on the corruption index remained static for the fourth time in a role.

Furthermore, it is not surprising that Honourable Adongo has revived that conversation. The average Ghanaian is concerned about the negative impact of corruption on society and the country at large. The presidential election is seen as a choice between continuity and change, but not so much a “ clean “ change Ghanaians may want to see.

The governing NPP has Vice President Bawumia as its candidate, while the NDC has Presented former President Mahama to match their opponent. Mind you, Corruption was a big issue in the past, will it matter this time as well?