Yaw Asamoah Buckman, the ambitious aspirant for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Chairmanship position in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa constituency, has passionately highlighted the dire state of roads as the single biggest hurdle facing the area.
He emphasized that residents’ frustration boils down to one core issue: crumbling infrastructure that spoils their farm produce before it reaches markets. “If Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa people say they will vote against you, it’s just the roads,” Buckman declared. “Come and fix the roads, or count yourself out that’s their major problem. They plant foodstuffs, but the bad roads mean everything gets spoiled along the way.” This plight hits hard in a farming-dependent community where fresh crops like yams, maize, and vegetables rot in transit, slashing incomes and fueling discontent.
MP’s Tireless Lobbying and Community Support Efforts
Buckman praised the current Member of Parliament, Alhaji Alhassan Kobina Ghansah, for his relentless work to secure road improvements. Despite the challenges, the MP is lobbying fiercely at higher levels to get the projects moving. “The MP is working so hard to lobby for the roads to be done, and he is doing his part to support,” Buckman noted.
Buckman added that himself has help some of the people into community policing , enlisting even non-partisan locals without favoritism, only processing forms from true constituents. These moves aim to boost the MP’s appeal ahead of elections. Buckman himself plays a strategic role through his foundation, which aids students with school supplies, and skills training. “All the things his foundation is doing is to help and build the students,” he explained. “But when the time comes, and he goes to their parents to ask for votes for the MP, they will consider what he has done. This is the role he is playing so that NDC remains in power in the constituency.”
Navigating New Government Hurdles and Unfair Comparisons
Buckman acknowledged the tough political landscape under the new administration, where road projects face delays. Contractors have abandoned sites, unwilling to return amid shifting priorities. “Due to the change of government, the contractor has left the site, he doesn’t want to come back,” Buckman said. “So they have written to the Roads Minister, who said he will re-award the contract to a different contractor.” Though road construction isn’t the MP’s direct duty, Ghansah’s persistent lobbying has yielded results before and continues to do so.
Comparisons to neighboring Hon. Ato Forson’s constituency sting, with its smoother roads drawing envy. “Even though it’s a new government, tarring the roads is very challenging because they are just next to Hon. Ato Forson’s area,” Buckman pointed out. “People compare him to our MP because of his good roads, but they’ve forgotten Ato Forson has been in parliament since 2009, while Alhaji Alhassan Kobina Ghansah came in just on 7th January 2021. How can they compare them like that? It’s the politics of it.” Buckman urged voters to give Ghansah more time: the longer he serves, the stronger his networks grow, unlocking greater development.
Tangible Achievements and a Bright Future Ahead
Beyond roads, Ghansah’s record shines. He has spearheaded construction of schools, a hospital, a kids’ ward, and a polyclinic, transforming access to education and healthcare. Roads leading to these facilities are now prioritized, with Buckman confident of visible changes this year. Leveraging his past as a COCOBOD supplier and current board member role, the MP has secured jobs for locals in security, quality control, and more. “He has taken some Asikuma people as security and quality control at COCOBOD,” Buckman highlighted.
In Buckman’s view, no fair-minded visitor to Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa can deny Ghansah’s performance. “Apart from their bad roads, when you get to Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, no one can say the MP Alhaji Alhassan Kobina Ghansah is not performing.” With sustained support, the constituency’s fortunes could shift dramatically, proving loyalty pays off in development.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson#ahotorfmonline.com