MPs Under Attack�Promises Unfulfilled

Residents of the Western Region have descended heavily on their Members of Parliament (MPs), accusing them of ineffectiveness and failure to fulfill campaign promises. They are therefore demanding accountability and calling on the lawmakers to redeem the pledges they made to them during the 2012 parliamentary elections. The Western Region has 26 Members of Parliament: 18 representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and eight representing New Patriotic Party (NPP). In the Takoradi Constituency, for instance, NDC serial callers are calling on the MP, Kobina Okyere Darko, to redeem a pledge he reportedly made to them that he would paint all the dilapidated structures in the Central Business District of the oil city. The MP has however denied that he ever made such a pledge. In the Prestea Huni-Valley Constituency, the MP, Mr Kwesi Blay, is under fire for the deplorable state of the roads in the area. In the Sekondi, Essikado Ketan, Kwesimintsim constituencies, resident have been verbally attacking MPs � Papa Owusu Ankomah, Joe Ghartey and Joe Baidoo Ansah respectively � for what they termed as failed campaign promises. In Ellembelle, residents are not happy with the MP, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, for the level of development in the area. In the Amenfi East Constituency, Mr Akwesi Oppong-Fosu has been criticised for the slow pace of development in the area. They cited his inability to assist small-scale miners to acquire license as a failure. Commuting within certain parts of the Western Region is now frightening as a result of the bad nature of the roads. Considering the fact that the region provides a large chunk of the country�s natural resources, some indigenes are of the opinion that government should develop the place to improve the lives of the people. Since oil was discovered in commercial quantities in 2007, the people have had high expectations in terms of development.