–BY Daniel Bampoe
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Yendi Constituency has made damning allegations against key government officials and local executives of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing them of misappropriating agricultural relief items provided by the World Bank to support drought-stricken farmers in the area.
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, May 31, and signed by the NPP’s Yendi Communications Director, Alhassan Issahaku Mmabia, the opposition party claims that relief items, including bags of rice, maize, and fertilizer, were wrongfully diverted by the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), the Municipal Director of Agriculture, and some NDC constituency executives.
According to the NPP, these officials, under the protection of security personnel from the military and police, accessed a storage facility along the Yendi–Tamale road where the World Bank-supplied items were kept.
Rather than distributing the much-needed supplies to farmers who suffered devastating crop losses during last year’s erratic rainfall and prolonged drought, the items were allegedly hoarded and misused for political patronage.
The opposition alleges that during the Muslim holy period of Ramadan and the subsequent Eid celebrations, the stolen rice was exchanged for sugar and distributed exclusively to known NDC loyalists under the guise of religious charity.
The NPP further claims that portions of the relief aid are currently being hoarded in private homes belonging to the Agric Director and other local NDC officials.
“This is not just a betrayal of farmers—it’s a clear abuse of office and an insult to the people of Yendi,” the NPP’s statement read.
“What was meant to be a humanitarian response to a natural disaster has been turned into loot for political exploitation.”
The NPP also contextualized the issue by recalling that the relief items were secured under the administration of the previous NPP government as part of a World Bank-backed intervention.
The original plan, the party said, was to distribute the items immediately following the 2024 elections.
However, after the NDC assumed power, the new administration allegedly hijacked the distribution process.
In response, the NPP has issued a four-point demand:
1. An immediate and impartial investigation into the alleged diversion and theft of the World Bank-supplied relief items.
2. Legal action against all individuals found culpable.
3. Full public accountability from the MCE, Municipal Agric Director, and implicated NDC executives.
4. Recovery and equitable distribution of any remaining relief supplies to the intended beneficiaries—drought-affected farmers.
The opposition has called on traditional leaders, civil society organizations, youth groups, and the media to rally behind their demand for justice and transparency, stating that they will not relent until accountability is ensured and the dignity of farmers in the Yendi Municipality is restored.
As of now, there has been no public response from the accused parties, and attempts to reach the Yendi Municipal Assembly and the local NDC office for comment have been unsuccessful.
