By: Abdul Shskur Omae
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Yendi Constituency has strongly accused the Municipal Chief Executive, the Municipal Agric Director, and some National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives of diverting World Bank aid meant for drought-affected farmers. According to a press release issued and signed by the NPP Communication Director in Yendi, Mr. Alhassan Issahaku Mmabia, Saturday May 31, 2025, the NPP claims these officials looted rice, maize, and fertilizer from a storage facility along the Yendi–Tamale road, with military and police cover, and used them for political patronage rather than distribution to suffering farmers.
The NPP alleges that during Ramadan and Eid celebrations, stolen rice was exchanged for sugar and distributed to NDC loyalists under the guise of religious charity. It also claims that large quantities of the aid are being hoarded at private residences belonging to the Agric Director and NDC members. The party has described this as a betrayal of the farmers and a disgraceful abuse of power and public trust.
Calling for immediate investigation and prosecution of those involved, the NPP is demanding the recovery and proper distribution of the remaining aid. They urge the people of Yendi, civil society, and traditional authorities to help ensure accountability and restore dignity to affected farmers.
READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 31st May, 2025
From: Communication Directorate NPP – Yendi Constituency
STRONG CONDEMNATION AND EXPOSURE OF THE CRIMINAL MISAPPROPRIATION OF WORLD BANK SUPPORT FOR DROUGHT-AFFECTED FARMERS IN YENDI
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Yendi Constituency wishes to unequivocally condemn and expose a deeply troubling and disgraceful act of corruption, theft, and abuse of power perpetrated by the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), the Municipal Agric Director, and certain executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Yendi Constituency.
These individuals, entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that much-needed support from the World Bank reaches the drought-affected farmers in our municipality, have instead turned this humanitarian intervention into a shameless avenue for personal and political gain.
In the wake of the devastating farming season last year, where many farmers across the Yendi Municipality suffered massive losses due to erratic rainfall and prolonged drought, the previous NPP government successfully secured and delivered essential support items — including rice, maize, and fertilizer — through a World Bank program to aid the affected farmers.
However, following the change of government after the 2024 general elections, this life-saving support was heartlessly hijacked by the very officials who should have facilitated its fair and transparent distribution. The Municipal Chief Executive, the Agric Director, and NDC Constituency Executives — acting in unholy collusion — shamelessly invaded the designated storage facility along the Yendi–Tamale road under the cover of armed military and police protection. There, they looted large quantities of rice, maize, and fertilizer meant for the farmers.
We have credible information that:
During the fasting season, these officials exchanged the stolen rice with a sugar vendor in town and distributed the sugar to NDC loyalists under the pretext of Ramadan charity.
They repeated this abuse during the Eid celebrations by diverting more rice meant for suffering farmers to NDC party fanatics.
Large quantities of rice have now been unlawfully stockpiled in containers at the residence of the Agric Director and in the homes of certain NDC operatives in Yendi.
This is not only a betrayal of the suffering farmers but also a direct insult to the hardworking people of Yendi and the principles of good governance. What was intended as a lifeline has been turned into loot, shamelessly traded and hoarded for political patronage and personal enrichment.
We want to remind the people of Yendi and the entire nation that these items were brought into the constituency under the leadership of the previous NPP government. The NPP, in its wisdom and foresight, intended to distribute them right after the elections to ensure fairness and transparency. Unfortunately, the change in government has resulted in the perversion of this noble goal.
We demand the following:
1. Immediate investigation into the misappropriation and theft of these items.
2. Sanctions and legal action against all individuals involved in this corrupt act.
3. Public accountability from the Municipal Chief Executive, the Agric Director, and the NDC Constituency Executives.
4. Immediate recovery and redistribution of the remaining items to the rightful beneficiaries — the affected farmers.
The NPP in Yendi will not relent until justice is served and the dignity of our farmers is restored. We call on the concern citizens of Yendi, Gbewa Place, Assembly members, youth groups, traditional leaders, the media, and the general public to stand with us in holding these officials accountable and ensuring that such acts of wickedness do not go unpunished.
Signed,
Alhassan Issahaku Mmabia
Communication Officer
New Patriotic Party (NPP) – Yendi Constituency
Cc.
All Media houses
Concern citizens of Yendi
All youth groups
