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Residents of the Ekumfi Constituency of the Central region, the home constituency of Late President, John Evans Atta Mills, have lashed out at President John Mahama and the NDC administration for neglecting the people of the area, despite the sacrifices and loyalty of the people and their son (Prof. Mills) to the NDC since the onset of the 4th Republic.

The people of Ekumfi expressed these concerns when Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia visited the Ekumfi Constituency on the second day of his Central Regional Tour.

Speaking at Narkwa in the Ekumfi Constituency, Seidu Adams, a staunch and leading member of the NDC in the constituency who has recently defected to join the NPP Campaign lamented the plight of the people of Ekumfi and how the NDC had shown total disregard for the people of the area, despite the fact that the Ekumfi Constituency had voted for the NDC since 1992.

“The NDC has not shown good faith to the people of the Ekumfi Constituency. It is as if they don’t realise that Prof. Mills was from here. Let me tell you a bit about myself, I began my activism for the NDC in the Gomoa East Constituency, which has today been split into two constituencies. I was a Polling Station Chairman, I was a Communication Officer, a Constituency communication officer amongst others. In 2004, I was named as part of the National Organization Committee which was Chaired by Samuel Ofosu Ampofo. We worked hard in 2004 but didn’t win and eventually won in 2008.

“I will focus on Ekumfi, for the last 24 years, Ekumfi has only voted for the NDC, we have stuck with the NDC and so my brothers and sisters, if we all admit that things are hard in Ekumfi and that we have not received our fair share of development, can’t we blame anyone but the NDC? It is clear that the NDC has failed the people of Ekumfi”, Adams added.

Continuing, Adams disclosed that he could no longer be part of a Party that continues to neglect his people and one where the top brass enrich themselves while the masses who support them continue to suffer.

“As I speak, I am a Regional Communications Team member for the NDC, I am also part of the Regional Organization Committee and a Regional Zongo Caucus Communications Officer and I am telling you that the NDC has failed us. I told Allotey Jacobs that I will no longer be part of a team that has disappointed my people so much and made it clear to him that I will not only support the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, Ato Cudjoe, but that I will be at the forefront of the Campaign to vote out the NDC’, he stated to a loud applause from the hundreds gathered.

Coastal Development Authority to Oversee Development of Coastal Areas

Dr. Bawumia on his part noted that it was unfortunate that many areas across the country continue to be plagued with basic developmental challenges and stark poverty, despite the enormous resources that had poured into the country recently and despite the hard work of the Ghanaian people. 

He disclosed that the NPP’s vision for the country was aimed at fixing the basic developmental issues that affects millions of Ghanaians especially in rural communities and said that the Coastal Development Authority to be established by a Nana Akufo-Addo government, will be resourced and tasked to tackle head-on, the basic development needs of Constituencies along the coast like Ekumfi.

“God willing, when the NPP is elected into office, the Coastal Development Authority to be established and which will oversee the $1million per constituency allocations from the Capital Expenditure with regards to Coastal Constituencies, will ensure that many of your issues can directly be tackled so your lives can improve.

“With an equivalent of $1million or GHC4 million for the Ekumfi Constituency every year will lead to a major transformation in your lives. Moreover the Coastal Development Authority will also ensure that our fishing becomes more worthwhile with facilities and the needed support for fishing”, he said.

Touching on the One District, One Factory Policy of Nana Akufo-Addo, which he indicated was one of the many policies that will lead to job creation for the youth, Dr. Bawumia pointed out that the youth of Ekumfi will greatly benefit from the sitting of such a factory especially because of the potential of the Constituency to become a hub for salt production and its allied industries.