By Edmund Mingle
Alexander Ackuaku, NDC Parliamentary candidate for Okaikoi South in Accra, has expressed high optimism of winning the seat for the ruling party, indicating that he is leaving nothing to chance in that quest.
After years of the New Patriotic Party’s control of the seat, the NDC candidate believes it is time for a change to benefit the people of the constituency.
In an interview with the Times yesterday about his vision for the area, Mr. Ackuaku, a tax administrator, said it was sad that the area had lagged behind in development in spite of its vast resources.
Mr. Ackuaku, who would face competition from the NPP’s candidate, Armed Arthur, hopes to pursue initiatives for development for the area, with regard to the provision of infrastructure, social amenities, quality education and creation of jobs for the youths.
When given the nod to represent the constituency, which covers Kaneshie, Awudome Estates, Bubuashie and sounding areas, he candidate intends to pursue a multi-faced development programme that would result in improved conditions in the area.
For instance, he hinted of the creation of an endowment fund to support needy but brilliant pupils and students, as well as support interventions towards the provision of quality education.
In addition, he plans to collaborate with the various Parent Teacher Associations to motivate teachers to give off their best, adding that an electronic library would be created for students in the area.
After his official campaign launch, which is slated for next month, Mr. Ackuaku said he would organise a youth forum to find ways of addressing the employment challenges confronting the jobless people in the constituency.
The objective of the forum, he said was to introduce the various national skills development programmes for them to utilise and offer them professional counseling to help them secure jobs.
“Development of our human capacity is critical and this is one of the main pillars of my plan for the area,” he stressed.
Touching on infrastructure, he said he would facilitate the provision of storm drain in some of the areas that are often affect by floods.
On the economic front, the candidate, who is a former teacher, said he would work with all the business organisations in the area to mobilise support for the progress of the constituency.
According to him, the people of the area now appreciate the need for change.
“This is the time for us to pay more attention to real development issues that is hindering the growth of the constituency,” he said.
He was optimistic that the electorate would give him the nod to represent them in Parliament, adding that he has the capacity to lobby for the progress of the area.
On the party front, he said Mr. Ackuaku noted that all the aspirants who competed with him in the primary were offering their support to win the seat.
“We have put the primary behind us and are working and fostering unity among the members of the party in the constituency,” he said, adding that “we need everybody on board to wrestle the Okaikoi South seat for the NDC.”
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