Call to elevate Binduri Constituency to a district

21-10-2011      

An Aspiring Parliamentary Candidate for the Binduri constituency of the Upper East Region, Stephen Atubiga has on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Binduri constituency appealed to the government through the Local Government Ministry to consider making Binduri a district. Mr. Atubiga who is vying under the ticket of the NDC told Radio Ghana that elevation of the Binduri constituency into a district status will ensure massive development which will as well bring governance to the doorsteps of people. He said Binduri which is one of the oldest constituencies in the Bawku Municipality has the required human and infrastructural resources to stand on its own in the area of health, agriculture, education and road network. With a current population of about 72,000, Binduri since its creation in 1954 has produced a number of parliamentarians some of whom are alive and are worried about government’s failure to elevate the constituency into a district. Mr. Atubiga revealed that Binduri has the capacity of generating enough revenue to develop the area because they have the needed market structures capable of mobilizing much revenue to ensure massive development. He said owing to the peaceful nature of the constituency, government have found it necessary to strategically install a military barrack at Bazua, a suburb of Binduri, which he observed, was an indication that the area was the safest place to be used in restoring peace in Bawku and its immediate environs. Additionally, Binduri can boast of a health facility that can be converted into a district hospital if upgraded to a district status. Asked whether it was even necessary for government to create new districts to add up to the existing ones, Mr Atubiga boldly answered that it was one of the surest ways development could reach other constituencies of the country, especially in deprived areas where development is stagnant. Creation of districts, he said, will ensure speedy development, increase in revenue and infrastructure, improvement in goods and service as well as ensure job creation for the teeming youth among other opportunities. He described the move by government as laudable though concerns have been raised as to the basis of government’s decision to create new districts. He debunked minority’s assertion that the creation of new district fall within NDC strongholds with a majority of the districts in the Volta and Northern regions. He said although minority has described the move by government as gerrymandering, the intension was not to influence electorates or score political points but rather ensure the proper demarcation of constituencies for speedy development.  He was grateful to government for taking the bold step in the creation of 42 new districts nationwide, and further stressed the need for government to factor the request of the chief and people of Binduri by making the constituency a district.

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