Sarki Shaibu Salau III, the Zongo Chief of Ngleshie Amanfro in the Ga South Municipal Assembly, has pointed out that the government's failure to allocate necessary resources for local development serves as a deterrent for individuals to engage in district-level elections.
As a former Assemblyman and the Branch Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) at Amanfro, Sarki Salau expressed concern that the lack of resources hinders Assembly members from effectively championing development in their communities.
During an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Sarki Salau emphasized the impact of resource constraints on district-level elections, stating, “There are too many resource constraints, and it has made people not feel the effectiveness of the district level elections.”
He attributed the apathy among voters to the inability of Assembly members to address basic needs in the community.
Sarki Salau urged the Assembly to prioritize completing the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND)-funded basic school project to eliminate the shift system in the area.
Additionally, he called for the construction of motorable roads and job creation initiatives to address unemployment issues and related challenges.
In the upcoming district-level election on December 19, 2023, the Ngleshie Amanfro electoral area sees three candidates vying for the position.
The candidates include Mr. Jonathan Odartey Lamptey, Mr. Nii Sackey Eugene Aggudey, and Mr. Joseph Kobina Fiamor, with the incumbent not seeking re-election.
Mr. Aggudey, the only returning candidate and the previous first runner-up, expressed his intention to leverage resources from various sources to contribute to the development of the area.
He highlighted the importance of engaging with opinion leaders, landlord associations, and influential community members to garner support for developmental projects.
However, Mr. Aggudey raised concerns about the low publicity of the district-level elections by the Electoral Commission (EC) and the limited period for filing nominations. The candidates face the challenge of ensuring adequate awareness and participation in the upcoming elections.