Claims of 'no development' in Akatsi South false, unfair - Assembly Member hits back

Japhet Festus Gbede, an Assembly Member and member of the Akatsi South NDC Communication Team, has strongly dismissed claims suggesting a lack of development in the constituency under the leadership of the Member of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor.

In a detailed statement shared on Facebook, Gbede described such narratives as entirely inaccurate and unfair. He emphasised that Ahiafor’s leadership has been rooted in quiet delivery, allowing development to speak for itself on the ground rather than chasing social media attention.

Gbede explained that context matters. Bernard Ahiafor entered Parliament in 2013 through a by-election at a time when Ghana’s governance was distracted by a Supreme Court election petition.

Despite these early challenges, he said, Ahiafor has worked tirelessly to ensure development reaches every corner of Akatsi South, particularly in the areas of education, health, water, agriculture, electrification, employment and youth empowerment.

Since returning to government on January 7, 2025, Ahiafor has secured and commenced several major education infrastructure projects, including a two-storey, 12-unit classroom block and a six-unit technical workshop at Avenorpeme Technical Institute; a two-storey girls’ dormitory; three three-storey semi-detached staff bungalows and two 12-unit toilet facilities at Akatsi Senior High School.

Other projects include a six-unit classroom block with a 12-seater toilet at Dzogadze Basic School; six-unit classroom blocks at Akeve Gui Basic School, Duawodome Basic Schooland Anyiheme E.P. Basic School and a 12-unit classroom block, administration block, and an 18-room boys’ dormitory at AKAST.

Completed education projects include six-unit classroom blocks at Wute, Logotey, Wuxor, Akuave, Dzrakate, Torve and Kpohega; four-unit classroom blocks at Kpevenu and Live Gakpokope; three-unit classroom blocks at Afatsagbleve, Horti, Suipe, Glikpome, Torgodo, Have Glime and Sremanu; as well as kindergarten blocks at Lume Ahugakope and Sremanu.

Gbede further noted that Ahiafor has implemented wide-ranging educational support initiatives.

These include the donation of 15 motorbikes to circuit supervisors and field officers; sponsorship of the 2021 and 2022 BECE mock examinations; construction of a football changing room at Akatsi College of Education; donation of 50 desktop computers and establishment of computer laboratories at several schools; provision of tables and chairs for the Avenor Senior High School computer laboratory; conversion of an old classroom at Atidzive into a dormitory for teacher mentees; and support for 284 brilliant but needy students through the MP’s Support Fund, amounting to over GHC 313,000.

Rehabilitated schools include Adeheta, Tsigbene, Bata, Atidzive R/C, and Adetsewui Basic Schools.

In the health sector, Ahiafor has rehabilitated health centres at Gefia, Avenorpeme, Avenorpedo, and Wute; refurbished the Municipal Health Theatre; and commenced construction of a CHPS compound at Asafotsi.

A special eye-screening initiative has also benefited 1,791 residents.

Water and sanitation projects under his leadership include mechanised and regular water systems provided to over 30 communities, including Klokpe, Atsekpui, Torve, Gefia, Torgodo, Ayitikope, Tsigbene, Adeheta, and Wlitey–Alagbokope.

A water mechanisation project is ongoing at Ayitikope, with additional projects underway at Agbaflome and Sesime.

In the agricultural sector, Ahiafor has dredged the Ayitikope and Torve irrigation dams, donated farm equipment annually to the Best Municipal Farmer, and distributed fertilisers and farm tools across the municipality.

Rural electrification projects are ongoing in communities including Sadame, Alorkpa, Ablorkpo, Kpevenu, Lawui-Kpota, Kporwuvi, Adetsewui, Ablordevi, Wudoameta, Gandokope, Awata-Kpornyokope, Atsikope, Esusukope, Agordoe, Nugblebi, Dadame, Devevia and Devega, Ahlihave, Numagbea, Klaklakorpe, Ewekorpe, Amuzukorpe, Edzikorpe, Kekemekorpe, Wordikorpe, Ekporkorpe, Katakakorpe, Awukudiagbokorpe, Tsiadakorpe, and several other communities.

On youth and community development, over 800 young people have been enrolled under the Bernard Ahiafor Skills Development and Youth Empowerment Programme. Constituents have also been supported to join the security services and other employment sectors.

Ahiafor further donated jerseys and footballs to 147 communities, while annual financial support ranging from GHC 1,000 to GHC 5,000 has been extended to over 400 communities for local development initiatives.

Gbede concluded, “In recent days, some have attempted to rewrite history by claiming there is no development in Akatsi South. Let the facts speak.

The results are on the ground, visible, and spreading across the constituency. Development in Akatsi South is real, and the work continues.”

Meanwhile, watch as NDC MPs and party leadership pay tribute to late Naser Toure Mahama