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Tensions are flaring in Okaikwei North as residents accuse National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP Theresa Awuni of allegedly taking credit for a Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC)-funded school project initiated by her predecessor, former New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker Fuseini Issah.
The project, aimed at improving educational infrastructure in Alogboshie, was approved and funded by GNPC following extensive lobbying by Issah during his term. Records indicate that the former MP worked with GNPC to bring the primary school initiative to the constituency, but he lost the seat before the project could be completed. Now, constituents claim Awuni is presenting it as her own achievement, a move they see as an attempt to gain political mileage before the December election.
“This project has nothing to do with her,” said Henrietta Abban, a resident of Alogboshie. “Our former MP Issah fought hard to bring this development to us. Now Awuni wants to come and cut the ribbon, pretending she did it. It’s unfair and dishonest.”
The Alogboshie 1 and 2 primary school buildings are expected to benefit hundreds of children in the area. But as commissioning plans unfold, accusations against Awuni have intensified, with some residents labeling her actions as “an insult” to the people who know the origins of the project.
“How can she take credit for someone else’s work?” questioned another local, Sarah Tetteh, who has followed the project since its inception. “This is not what we expect from our leaders. We want honesty, not attempts to mislead us for votes.”
Sources close to the project confirm that Issah initiated the process and collaborated closely with GNPC before his exit from office. However, efforts to reach Issah and local authorities for comment were unsuccessful. Awuni’s office, meanwhile, has not addressed the allegations directly, but political observers suggest that the commissioning ceremony could serve as a strategic move to strengthen her standing among undecided voters.
As election day approaches, constituents are calling for transparency and urging Awuni to acknowledge Issah’s role in bringing the much-needed infrastructure to the area.
“People here deserve the truth, not half-truths or misrepresentations,” added Abban. “We hope that in the future, leaders will be more respectful of each other’s contributions rather than twisting facts for their own gain.”
The controversy has sparked a broader debate about the ethics of claiming credit for development projects in the run-up to elections, with many in Okaikwei North saying they will remember this issue at the ballot box.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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