The chief of staff Julius Debrah is leading a campaign team in the Brong Ahafo region as the governing National Democratic Congress intensifies its campaign to sweep more votes in the region.
The campaign team consists of the Deputy Communications Minister, Ato Sarpong, NDC deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, Presidential Staffers, Adu Asare and Emilia Arthur, National Communications Director of the NDC Solomon Nkansah, and his deputy Fred Agbenyo plus veteran social commentator, Owula Mangortey and key regional executives of the party.
Mr. Debrah’s group is the fourth campaign team formed so far to ink NDC strategies to ensure a resounding victory come December 7. The party is banking its hopes on the massive infrastructure development, which it describes as “unprecedented in the history of politics in Ghana” across the region.
Briefing Mr. Debrah after a closed door meeting with regional executives of the party and other functionaries, Brong Ahafo regional Minister, Eric Opoku noted with confidence that numerous projects in the education, health, roads, water, education and other sectors are not only creating opportunities for the youth, but have created hundreds of jobs that have improved the lives of the people.
In the education sector for example, the Brong Ahafo regional Minister noted that expansion of educational facilities alone have created over 29,000 jobs for teachers.
“In 2009, the region had 12,332 teachers. As of today, there are over 41, 982 teachers which means under the NDC government, over 29,000 jobs have been created for this category of employees,” Mr. Opoku said.
Giving a breakdown of the facilities, Mr Opoku said the NDC is on record to have built the brand new university for the region, University of Energy and Natural Resources. He added that the Sunyani Polytechnic which has been upgraded to Technical University has also benefitted from expansion projects.
The regional Minister made reference to the Nkoranza Technical School where 11-storey buildings have been completed by the Mahama-led administration, well-furnished and ready for commissioning.
He said products of the institute will feed the Sunyani Polytechnic and other tertiary facilities across the country.
“As of 2009, the region had only five Nursing Training Schools. Today the region can boast of 19. As many as 14 training institutions for nurses and health assistants have been established by the current NDC government. The NDC again established the Islamic College of Education at Wenchi, Alfarouk Islamic College of Education [the biggest in West Africa so far], has opened formally,” he explained.
On Secondary education, he said from independence till 2009, the region had 54 secondary schools. The Mills-Mahama administration added 20 more bringing the total to 74. The region again is benefitting from 18 Community Day Senior High Schools. Four have already been commissioned at Derma, Abaase, New Nongro and Krobo (Techimantia), while two are at the preparatory stages.
“Expansion in infrastructure for all Secondary schools ongoing. 40,000 bunk beds and 80,000 mattresses distributed to SHS while 607 schools under trees have been eliminated in the Brong Ahafo region along. 30,000 dual and mono desk distributed while with regards to the School Feeding programme, as of 2009, 88 schools were beneficiaries when it was funded by donor partners. But today the initiative when it is solely funded by the Government of Ghana, as many as 532 schools are beneficiaries in the region.”
In the Health sector, he made reference to a seven million dollar equipment replacement programme at the Brong Ahafo regional Hospital which he said was built by the NDC government.
“Nsakwaw District Hospital is ready for commissioning by mid-November. As of 2009 – there were a total of 226 health facilities in the Brong Ahafo region, under the Mills Mahama Administration the figure through massive investments to improve access and lives of the people has shot up to a whopping 726. This is unprecedented. The NPP government in its eight years of rule did not build a single Polyclinic. The NDC is building nine. Five have already been completed and four more are being built by District Assemblies and are at various stages of completion,” he noted.
In the water sector, he mentioned, 1,200 drilled boreholes, 117 solar powered boreholes facilitated by COCOBOD and 22 communities have benefited from Small Town Water projects.
The Minister also singled out the Berekum Water Expansion project completed under the Mahama administration and currently providing 47 million gallons of water in excess. He said the over 127km of pipelines laid will last the entire town and surrounding communities for the next 25 years after factoring in the growth rate in the area.
“Under the NPP administration, very little attention was paid to development of Sunyani, the capital and the entire region though there were cabinet Ministers and other prominent appointees in the Kufuor regime like the Professor Ameyaw Ekumfis, Adjei Darkos, JH Mensahs, the Agyemang Manus, and the Hannah Nyamekyes.” he said, adding the NDC is looking forward to make a mark not only for President Mahama but his wife Lordina and other appointees who hail from the region.
He assured that registered victims of the DKM financial scam who have started receiving payments will eventually have their locked monies paid.
In a brief remark, the Chief of Staff reiterated President John Mahama’s commitment to ensuring expanded infrastructure he is building creates the enabling environment for accelerated development.
He also commended the party’s regional executives for ensure unity as well as the Parliamentary candidates and MMDCEs for their coordination which has won the confidence of the masses.
He said the NDC knows it will win the elections but will not be complacent. He called on all to ensure a violent-free campaign to ensure Ghana emerge victorious.
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