By Samira Larbie
Accra, Aug. 20, GNA-December 7 is fast approaching, and the Ablekuma West Constituency in Greater Accra is gearing up for an electrifying electioneering campaign season.
The issues of unemployment, poor ancillary roads, neglect of the Sea Defence Project, teenage pregnancy, single parenting, poor sanitation, and flood, among others will define this year’s elections in the Constituency.
Despite ongoing infrastructural development in the constituency, the electorate says it is time much attention is given to addressing the economic hardship facing the people.
The Ablekuma West constituency has been the stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party and one of the 45 newly created constituencies for the 2012 General Election.
With over a 100, 000 voter population, the constituency is home to a mix of professionals.
The economy is driven by small and medium-sized enterprises, with many residents engaged in buying and selling.
Nii Adote Faamlite I, the Chief of Gbegbe, highlighting the challenges of the Constituency, tells the Ghana News Agency that the Constituency has been deprived for too long and needs the government’s attention.
He said the current MP’s focus was on infrastructure such as schools, and hospitals, is good but more needs to be done to improve the livelihood of the constituents.
About four months before the December polls, the Constituency is flooded with political campaign posters, billboards, and flyers of the incumbent parliamentary aspirant of the NPP and that of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary aspirant.
The 2024 election, just like the previous year, is expected to be fierce due to the Constituency’s known diverse demographics and vibrant political culture.
Since the creation of the Constituency, the NPP has been the dominant party and won the parliamentary election three consecutive times.
In 2012, the incumbent MP, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekufful, who was the NPP’s Parliamentary Candidate, emerged as the winner in that election.
She polled 36,975 votes, representing 58.22 per cent while the National Democratic Congress’s Candidate, Victoria Hammah, polled 26, 153 representing 41.18 per cent votes.
The Progressive Peoples Party, People’s National Congress and the National Democratic Party garnered 291, 55, and 40 votes, respectively.
Similarly, in 2016, Mrs Owusu-Ekufful won again with 34,376 votes, representing 56.96 per cent against the NDC’s Candidate, Diana Twum, who polled 20,976 votes, representing 34.76 per cent.
The 2020 General Election was no exception, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, Mrs Owusu-Ekufful, for the third time, won, polling 37,363 votes, representing 54.27 per cent and the NDC’s Reverend Kwaku Addo, polled 30,733, representing 44.64 per cent.
Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, seeking re-election, is the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation.
The NPP’s 2024 campaign would focus on achievements in the Constituency, promising continued development of infrastructure.
Reverend Kweku Addo, the NDC Parliamentary Aspirant, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, is confident of making history for the first time for the NDC.
He believes the Constituency under the leadership of the incumbent, Mrs Owusu-Ekufful, should have benefited more for the past 12 years, especially when the current MP is a Minister.
“When you are an ordinary MP, there is so much you can lobby for and when you are a Minister, there is so much you can lobby for, so we should have benefited more because of the power available,” Rev Addo says.
He says the 24-Hour Economy by the NDC is the game changer.
Rev. Addo says he will create an MP’s forum to engage the constituents at various levels, address teenage pregnancy, women empowerment, sports development, addressing, flood and sanitation challenges and education.
He says he will also ensure the completion of the Sea Defence Project started by the NDC.
Rev. Addo urges the constituents to vote for him to experience a new and innovative Dansoman in the coming years.
“If you want to see a different Ablekuma West, let’s have a different meal on the table. Vote for Rev. Kweku Addo and John Mahama and you will see change.
“If we want a Dansoman we will be proud of, we need to bring in new innovations.”
GNA