By Lawrencia Akoto Frempong
Kpone, Dec 01, GNA – The Kpone-Katamanso Constituency in the Greater Accra Region is one of the few constituencies that shares boundaries with many other constituencies.
It has boundaries with Akuapem in the Eastern Region, Shai Osudoku, Ningo-Prampram, Tema East, Tema Central, Tema West, Ashaiman, and Adenta.
The constituency covers a vast area, including Kpone on Sea, parts of Tema Community 25, Gbetsiley, Zenu, Santeo, Michel Camp, Bediako, Gulf City, Nanoman, Oyibi, Katamanso, Appollonia, Gonten, and Kpone-Bawaleshi, among others.
Even though the two larger communities of Kpone and Katamanso are Ga lands, they also serve as residents for various ethnic groupings such as Akans, Ewes, and Northerners.
According to the 2021 population census, the constituency has a population of 417,334 with 208,040 males and 209,294 females.
Economy
The constituency, with its unique feature, has a vibrant fishing sector at Kpone on the sea, while its arable lands on the other side are used for farming activities.
Kpone-Katamanso also houses a few industries and companies, including the independent power producer (IPP), Sunon Asogli Power Plant, Sentuo Ceramics Ltd., farm tanks such as Chase, and the Tema Free Zones enclave, providing jobs for a number of youths from the constituency and beyond.
The constituency has expanded as a number of estates have been developed in the area, with some being the Apollonia City Estate, Kpone Affordable Housing, and Nyamedua, among others.
Despite the many industries located within the area, a number of youths are still unemployed and have resorted to operating tricycles, popularly named “Pragya,” to help commute residents within the metropolis.
Education/Health
The constituency can boast of a few public schools, such as the Kpone Presby, Kpone Methodist, and Katamanso Basic schools. Privately owned public schools are also abounding, providing each child the opportunity to acquire an education.
It has the Kpone Community Day Secondary School, which was constructed under the E-school buildings project under the John Mahama administration.
Health-wise, Kpone-Katamanso constituency has some public and private health facilities ranging from a polyclinic, a yet-to-be-commissioned one-district hospital under construction by Nana Akuffo Addo’s government, and a few community health planning services (CHPS) compounds.
Challenges
The major challenge in the constituency is the deplorable state of road networks connecting communities within the constituency, which has pushed the youth to stage protests.
Other issues include poor sanitation, open defecation in some areas, and lack of pipe-borne water in the Kpone township and its environs. The residents, who are eligible voters, informed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) these issues would inform their decision on which candidate to vote for.
Politics
The constituency has been very loyal to the NDC, as the party has won all seven elections under the fourth republic.
In 2016, for the presidential election, while Mr. John Dramani Mahama of the NDC received 32,043 votes, representing 53.88 percent of the votes cast, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo got 26,966 votes, representing 45.34 percent.
The 2020 elections saw the NDC presidential candidate increase its vote percentage to 58.79 percent, while the NPP’s vote percentage was reduced to 40.11 percent.
The 2016 parliamentary race saw Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo of the NDC polling 51.37 percent of the votes, and Solomon Tettey Appiah of the NPP receiving 45.34 percent of the votes.
The 2020 saw two new candidates contesting for the two major parties: Joseph Akuerteh Tetteh of the NDC got the nod with 55.33 percent of the votes cast, and his closest contender, Hopeson Yaovi Adorye then of the NPP, garnered 42.27 percent of the votes.
As the elections draw near, the NDC seeks to retain the seat in the constituency with the incumbent MP, Mr Joseph Akuerteh Tetteh, while the NPP has selected a new face, Mr William Ofosu Asante, to snatch the seat for the party.
Other contenders are Mr. Samuel Kofi Agbane, contesting on the ticket of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), and Mr. Edmund Nii Amanquah Anang, for the New Force.
GNA