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Ghana: Great Expectations of Prez Mills' Promises From Residents of Region

David Alan Painstil

14 January 2009

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A few days after the swearing-in of President Professor John Evans Atta Mills as President of Ghana, some residents in the Region have expressed sentiments of expecting a very high performance from his administration.

The Region is one of the poorest in Ghana, and the people think that it is only through political power that can climb out of their current state of poverty.

Therefore, it was an opportune time to explore other measures that the Prof. Mills-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration could take to meet their aspirations.

The jubilant residents, mostly NDC members, who spoke to Central File, indicated that they expected President Atta Mills to fulfill the campaign promises he made to the region.

Kofi Adua, a native of Cape Coast, was emphatic that his hope was to see the construction of an airstrip in the metropolis, which President Mills promised, during his campaign tour of the Cape Coast constituency.

He also reminded President Mills to keep his word, by expanding or re-locating the 15,000 capacity Cape Coast Stadium, under construction to 40,000, so as to ensure that future international events can be held in the newly-created metropolis.

Adua also appealed to President Mills to re-locate the Stadium from Akotokyir, which is close to the University of Cape Coast (UCC), to Efutu and Jukwa, so as to help expand the metropolis to the north-west of the area.

Aba Akyere, a cabbage seller at the Kotokukraba Market, said her expectation was to see the construction of a new market complex, with an interchange to curb the incessant traffic jam that has characterises the place during the busy hours of the day.

She also said that such a construction would beautify the ancient capital, and help it take its rightful place in the development of the nation.

Kow Akraman from Mumford, a fisherman, told Central File that he expected President Mills to construct a fishing harbour, or breakwaters at Mumford, to boost fishing activities in the area, he added that President Mills should not forget to eradicate pair trawling.

Kweku Adu, a resident of Agona Swedru, reminded President Mills to keep his word of making Swedru an industrial city in the Region, and also the up-grading of the Swedru Sports Stadium.

Mrs. Stella Mensah, a teacher at Agona Swedru, expects the President to re-habilitate the Winneba-Junction to Akim Oda highway, which has developed potholes.

She was hopeful that the road would be asphalted, so as to last longer for posterity to see.

At Kasoa, the most populous town in the region, the residents were of the hope that President Mills would re-construct their market, and give them well planned streets to ease the flow of traffic.

Masawudu Adama, a resident, said apart from trading, the area could also serve as the hub of real estate development, and expressed the hope that President Mills would consider solving the accommodation problems there, by putting up affordable estates.

He also called for the construction of a police station to help curb the increasing crime in the budding cosmopolitan area.

Some Mankessim residents are expecting a face-lift of the town, since the protracted chieftaincy dispute had stalled the development of the town for a long time.

Jubrine Abdulai, a fuel station attendant, contended that President Mills should honour his promise of expanding the market for them, and expand their second cycle school to a model one, to enhance access to such level education for residents.

In the overseas of the Region, Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso, some residents expect the re-construction of many access roads that have become difficult to ply.

Kofi Boakye, a student of a Dunkwa second cycle school, reminded the Law and Economics Professor of his pledge to provide a training college for Dunkwa, to train more teachers to teach in the area because it lacked quality human resource.

Boakye was sad about the state of police and fire stations at Dunkwa, and believed that President Mills would ensure they were put in order.

One Ansah Bediako, who resides at Diaso, the last town that shares a boundary with the Western Region, called on President Mills to consider giving the town a befitting police station, since the rented apartment in use could not serve the police forever.

Meanwhile Central File has gathered from many parts of the region, that every constituency, district, municipality and metropolis is expecting so much from President Mills' administration.

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