One of the contestants vying to lead the New Patriotic Party in the Walewale constituency as a Member of Parliament after the 2020 general election, Hajia Lariba Abudu has promised to use her MP’s share of the Common Fund to enhance education of her constituents if given the nod.
She said education is a major factor affecting growth and development of the Walewale constituency in the North East region.
She observed the education and bright future of some brilliant but needy children get stalled because they have failed one subject or another.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority said though the NPP administration has implemented the free senior high school policy, the teaching and learning environment must be made conducive for the young ones to learn effectively.
“Nowadays, if you don’t have good results you can’t go far in your education; so how do I help them to get these results and how do I sustain them to be in school? Free SHS is in place now but there are some basic things that you help the student to get” she stressed.
‘Hajia One’ as she is affectionately called in the Walewale constituency in an exclusive interview with THE CUSTODIAN indicated that, if the learning environment doesn’t look friendly then teaching and learning doesn’t also look friendly especially to children.
Poverty eradication
Hajia Lariba Abudu said she will build the capacity of less privileged people in the area by organizing skilled training on soap making, beads, doughnuts among others to improve their economic status.
This will help support their livelihoods and families.
She added that if these women are given business skills they will be in better positions to manage any funds that are entrusted onto their care.
Hajia Lariba also promised to secure micro credits and soft loans from the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) and other business avenues created by the NPP government for the women.
Women politics
Commenting on the misconceptions about women leadership in the Ghanaian political landscape, Hajia Lariba said women are better lobbyists than men in politics.
However, she said cultural and religious practices in the north contribute significantly in undermining the success of women in political leadership positions.
Consequent to that, the three term former Fio/Fungu Assemble woman and later a former Presiding member for the West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly urged the media to change the narrative by educating the public about such myths.
She further touted her credentials and how she managed to develop her electorates when she was an assemble member.
Hajia Lariba is seeking to unseat the NPP incumbent MP and Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Sagre Bambangi who is seeking re-election for a third term in parliament.
The Deputy NDA Chief Executive Officer narrowly lost to the incumbent MP Dr Sagri in the 2012 parliamentary primaries of the NPP.
