Politics of Thursday, 9 September 2010

Source: GNA

Aspirant seeks electorate's mandate

Sunyani (B/A), Sept. 9, GNA - Mr Robert Amoako Nkrumah, a 57 year-old electrical contractor and an aspiring Assembly Member for Ahenboboano Electoral Area, on Thursday appealed to the electorate to vote for him in the up-coming district assembly elections.

He said this would enable him to contribute towards improving the socio-economic status of the people and also complete the construction of the area's drainage system, which he identified as a major problem.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he said the first drainage construction was executed in 2002 at Mmaresa in the area through contributions by residents and support from the Sunyani Municipal Assembly.

"It has become necessary that drainage channels be constructed in other parts of the area and this is what I plan to undertake when elected", the aspirant added.

"Any time there's a heavy down pour, an unpleasant situation is created and workers, who pass through the area to their various workplaces, are confronted by the dust and mud, particularly at the Victoria Park area".

Mr Nkrumah said if he is given the nod, he would ensure the rehabilitation of the borehole at Abonsua to provide residents with potable water.

The aspiring Assembly member said he would initiate a programme to closely monitor the activities of video operators in the area, as their operations were seriously affecting school children, who patronized their services during school hours.

He said electricity would be extended to Krotia, in the area, to nip in the bud, the activities of undesirable elements, who took advantage of the absence of electricity to snatch mobile phones from people.

The aspiring Assembly Member added that, he would liaise with the Sunyani municipal assembly, to ensure that roads were constructed in areas that deserved them.

Asked to comment on whether municipal and district chief executives must be elected, Mr Nkrumah said he would support the proposed call for the election of regional ministers, municipal and district chief executives.

"If this is done, the implementation of programmes and policies would be devoid of partisan considerations and there will be swift execution of programmes due to the pressure on the elected officials to deliver", he stated.

He called for the abolition of sitting allowance for Assembly Members and its substitution with salaries, saying 93with the oil find government will make enough revenue to meet and motivate Assembly Members, to discharge their duties effectively".

On measures to stem youth unemployment in the area, Mr Nkrumah said, he had plans to organise the unemployed in the community, to engage in the afforestation project, with the collaboration of the Sunyani municipal assembly.