CDD promotes citizens' participation at Adentan

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has provided a platform for residents of the Adentan Constituency in Accra to hold their Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, accountable for his electoral promises in a bid to promote citizens' participation in the democratic process.

The platform was the first to be provided by CDD-Ghana for constituents to have a dialogue with their legislative representative on developments issues. The forum, which forms part of CDD-Ghana's 'Promoting Citizens' Participation and MPs Accountability and Responsiveness' programme, was sponsored by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) and CDD-Ghana, Mr Angel Carbonu, a CODEO Advisory Board Member, said the forum was aimed at facilitating interaction between the MP and his constituents to deepen their relationship.

Mr Carbonu recalled that Hon. Moore took part in the selected parliamentary candidates' debates organised by CDD-Ghana in the run-up to the 2012 elections and made certain promises to his constituents. “The promises made by him have been put in the form of posters and flyers … We have him present to share with members what he has been able to accomplish with regard to the promises he made to the citizens of Adentan having represented the people for one and half years and what are his plans or arrangements to fulfill the rest of the commitments.”

In a three-page statement, Hon. Ashie Moore said he provided facilities and assistance in education, health, roads and infrastructure, water, security and social interventions. On education, he undertook projects and initiatives such as payment of the school fees for 97 students amounting to Ghc27,882.80 from the MPs' Common Fund and personal payment of the fees of 17 students costing Ghc16,780. He also paid the salary of a security man at the Adentan Kindergarten for a year.

The MP registered about 200 children onto the National Health Insurance Scheme as well as paid the medical bills of some needy persons to the tune of Ghc8,500. On roads and infrastructure, he listed the ongoing construction of a bridge at New Legon (Nsuo Nano) which cost about Ghc11,830 so far; surfacing of the Japan Motors-Ashaley Botwe road has been completed; and the rehabilitation of St. Peters-Third Gate road, among others.

Hon. Moore said with the completion of the Kpong Water project by the end of this year, “the water problem in Adentan” will be “a thing of the past.” On security, he said he provided street lights to some communities such as Okpoti Kopie, Amrahia New Town and Nanakrom. His social interventions include start-up capital for 10 women amounting to Ghc3,600; donation of cash and 50 bags of cement to chiefs, the Muslim community and some schools, among others.