Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Joana Gyan Cudjoe, has urged residents to disregard unverified claims circulating on social media and instead judge her performance by evidence and tangible results.
In a statement addressing her constituents, the MP acknowledged concerns over the pace of development in the constituency but said the scale of the challenges required a longer-term approach.
She said many of the problems confronting Amenfi Central, including poor roads, inadequate healthcare and education infrastructure, unreliable electricity, poor network connectivity and limited government services, had accumulated over several decades.
“I did not create these problems, but I accept responsibility for helping to solve them. And the work has started,” she said.
Mrs Gyan Cudjoe, who has been MP for about a year, said she was not seeking praise in place of accountability but wanted her constituents to assess her fairly.
“I am not asking for praise instead of accountability. I am asking for fairness,” she said, adding that while criticism was welcome, progress should also be acknowledged.
According to her, interventions during her first year in office had created or facilitated opportunities for more than 300 graduates and non-graduates.
She also cited support for teachers and educational initiatives, assistance to students, efforts towards schools, boreholes and CHPS compounds, support for women, businesses and farmers, medical assistance and electricity interventions.
Five key priorities
Mrs Gyan Cudjoe identified roads, telecommunications, electricity, healthcare and education as the five areas requiring the most urgent attention in the constituency.
She said better roads were essential not only for residents but also for farmers, businesses and investors, while improved telephone and internet connectivity was increasingly important for education, banking, healthcare and the digital economy.
On healthcare, she called for improved CHPS compounds and health centres, better hospitals, adequate medical personnel, equipment, medicines, ambulances and accommodation for health workers.
She also proposed a long-term assessment of the need for strategically located major hospitals or upgraded facilities in the constituency.
Education, she said, must go beyond constructing classrooms to include qualified teachers, laboratories, libraries, computers, internet access, electricity, water and appropriate accommodation for teachers and students.
Calls for stronger government presence
The Amenfi Central MP further called for an institutional audit to determine which government agencies are adequately represented in Amenfi Central and where additional services are needed.
She mentioned institutions including the Electricity Company of Ghana, Ghana Water Ltd., Lands Commission, Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Revenue Authority, Forestry Commission, Ghana Geological Survey Authority, DVLA, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, National Ambulance Service and NADMO.
“We need an institutional audit: What is here? What is missing? What needs renovation? What needs expansion? What services need to be brought closer?” she asked.
She also stressed the need for accommodation and logistical support for police officers, teachers, doctors, nurses, firefighters, ambulance personnel and other essential workers.
13 to 20-year development roadmap
Mrs Gyan Cudjoe proposed a 13-to-20-year development roadmap for Amenfi Central, arguing that the scale of the constituency’s infrastructure and institutional needs could not realistically be addressed within a single parliamentary term.
She, however, clarified that the proposal did not mean residents should wait decades for development.
“A 13-to-20-year roadmap does not mean waiting 20 years before seeing results. We start now. We work now. We lobby now. We build now,” she said.
She called for one-year, four-year, medium-term and long-term targets, with progress measured annually and a development scorecard presented every four years.
Social media cannot build Amenfi Central
The MP also took aim at what she described as misinformation and political attacks on social media.
She said genuine criticism was welcome but urged residents to verify allegations before accepting or sharing them.
“An allegation without evidence should not automatically become truth simply because it is repeated on social media,” she said.
She added that social media arguments would not address the constituency’s infrastructure challenges.
“TikTok arguments cannot build hospitals. Facebook insults cannot extend electricity. WhatsApp rumours cannot construct roads. Misinformation cannot create jobs.”
Mrs Gyan Cudjoe appealed to political opponents and other stakeholders to put aside partisan differences and support efforts to develop the constituency.
“A bad road does not ask whether you are NDC or NPP. A sick child does not have a political party. Poor network affects everybody. Electricity does not choose political colours,” she said.
She called on government, private investors, banks, development partners, telecommunications companies, universities, NGOs and members of the diaspora to partner with the constituency.
“This is bigger than Joana Gyan Cudjoe. This is bigger than NDC or NPP. This is Amenfi Central,” she said.
She added: “One people. One vision. One roadmap. One stronger Amenfi Central.”
The MP said she was prepared to be held accountable for her stewardship but asked constituents to assess progress based on facts, timelines and results.
“I am not asking you to lower your expectations. I am asking you to recognise the size of the task and work with me to turn those expectations into results,” she said.
