Growing electricity challenges across the Amenfi Central Constituency have brought together Assembly Members, former Assembly Members, community and constituency leaders in a renewed effort to document the problems and pursue practical solutions for affected residents.
The stakeholders, at a recent engagement on the electricity situation, identified several challenges affecting households, businesses and communities across the constituency.
These include faulty or inadequate transformers, damaged electricity meters, persistent challenges involving the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), unstable power supply and communities that remain without reliable electricity.
Participants also called for the extension of electricity infrastructure to underserved communities to support economic activity and improve living conditions.
Among those who have consistently raised concerns over the situation is Hon. Gyenfi Emmanuel, Assembly Member for Kwaku Boah.
According to participants at the engagement, Hon. Gyenfi first drew attention to the electricity challenges several months ago and has continued to follow up on the matter, including engagements two months ago and again last month.
His sustained advocacy was cited by participants as an example of community leadership focused on addressing residents’ needs beyond partisan considerations.
The meeting brought together Hon. Gyenfi Emmanuel, Hon. Mathias Coffie, Hon. Richard Angsokpieg, Hon. Enock Kwaw Sekyim, Hon. Adowah Stephen and Hon. Kwame Ashie, alongside former Assembly Members and constituency leaders, including Hon. Anita Lafone and Hon. Daniel Appiah, popularly known as Chairman Daniel.
A major theme emerging from the discussions was the need to separate essential development issues from partisan politics.
Participants stressed that access to electricity, good roads, quality schools, healthcare facilities, transformers, electricity meters and other essential public services affects residents regardless of their political affiliation.
They argued that development interventions should therefore be guided by the needs and impact on communities rather than political considerations.
For approximately three months, efforts have reportedly been underway to address electricity and energy-related challenges across Amenfi Central.
The process has involved the office of the Member of Parliament, the office of the District Chief Executive, Hon. Peter Amposah, NDC constituency and branch structures, Assembly Members, community leaders and relevant energy and ECG authorities.
The engagements have focused on identifying affected communities, documenting specific challenges, communicating them to the appropriate authorities and following up on the interventions required.
There is renewed optimism that some of the challenges could begin to ease in the coming weeks.
According to the stakeholders, commitments and assurances from President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Energy have strengthened ongoing efforts to address transformer and electricity-related problems in the constituency.
Stakeholders are hopeful that tangible interventions will begin to reach some affected communities before the end of August.
At the centre of the engagement is also a commitment to inclusive representation.
The Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, has emphasised that her mandate covers every resident of the constituency, regardless of political affiliation.
She has identified farmers, market women, business owners, drivers, teachers, nurses, students, young people, artisans, workers, traditional and religious leaders, the elderly and families as constituents whose concerns deserve attention.
Residents and community leaders have consequently been encouraged to channel genuine development concerns through the MP’s office, her team or their respective Assembly Members so that the issues can be properly documented, followed up and referred to the relevant institutions.
The approach is intended to ensure that development concerns are prioritised according to their urgency and impact on communities rather than partisan considerations.
As efforts to address the electricity challenges continue, stakeholders maintain that the development of Amenfi Central must take precedence over political differences.
The commitment is to continue working with the MP, Assembly Members, community leaders and relevant government and energy institutions to secure practical solutions and improve living conditions.
By Nana Kwakye Ababio
