The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Abirem Constituency, Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong has declared her preparedness to wrestle the parliamentary seat from the hands of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Ms Frimpong, who is the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Birim North District, made the declaration in an interview with the GNA saying she is also aware of the rumours going round that a large number of supporters from the opposing parties were allegedly offering their support to her.

The DCE, who holds a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Ghana, said due to her open door administration policies, readiness to listen to the concerns of all, irrespective of political affiliations and her development-oriented agenda, she was deeply humbled by the weight of support from across the political divide for the December polls.

Ms Frimpong who described herself as a “local girl”, said she was born and bred at Afosu near New Abirem, had her primary and middle school education there before moving to the Western Region.

She said besides working in and outside the country for a number of years, her advantage was having lived in three different belts in Ghana including the northern, middle and southern, and was therefore better placed to appreciate the development challenges of people.

Ms Frimpong said the district was fast growing and yet faced a number of developmental challenges including residential accommodation, sanitation, health, water and education among others, adding that the assembly was collaborating with Newmont and the communities under a three-tier agreement to solve some of these problems.

She said the construction of a number of schools and improved health facilities in various towns and villages, citing the nurses quarters and male and female wards at the New Abiriem Government Hospital which had been upgraded to a district hospital to meet the health needs of the people as examples.

Ms Frimpong said no nation can develop without a strong human resource base and that the assembly had instituted a “One Graduate per Family Policy” in the district by offering scholarships to needy but brilliant students in families across the constituency.

To help improve the economic lives of the people, the DCE said the construction of a market-complex at New Abirem which was started some years back had been upgraded from 170 sheds to 300; 60 ultra-modern lockable stores, a bank, pharmacy, water closet toilets and urinals in addition to a modern lorry pack was steadily moving fast.

She said to reduce accidents at New Abriem, speed ramps had been constructed in the town and the construction of a district court was almost complete to handle the expected number of increase in litigation cases due to the operations of Newmont.

Ms Frimpong expressed happiness with the unprecedented eco-social developments chalked under President J.E.A Mills administration saying she was convinced many Ghanaians would vote massively to give him a first round victory.**