News:
November 13, 2017
The Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, Betty Krosby- Mensah has expressed dismay at the alleged relocation of the Donkorkrom campus of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development from her constituency to Bunso in the Akyem area.
The MP who expressed her disappointment in a press release signed by her described the proposed relocation as a discrimination against the people of the area according to the 1992 constitution citing a possible involvement of President Akufo Addo in the deal.
‘’The action of the Minister of Education is an act of discrimination against us for which the constitution clearly frowns upon by article 17 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.
We are tempted to state that the president of this country, His Excellency, Nana Addo Danquah AkufoAddo is involved in the relocation of the proposed Donkorkrom campus of the University to the president’s hometown in Akyem and thereby discriminating against us in favour of the people of his hometown’’ the statement said.
By below the full statement:
RELOCATION OF THE DONKORKROM CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FROM AFRAM PLAINS NORTH CONSTITUENCY TO BUNSO IN AKYEM
We have heard with dismay and disappointment NPP government’s intention through the Ministry of Education to alter the documented policy of the previous NDC Government to site a campus of the University of Environment and sustainable Development (hereinafter referred to as “the University”) at Donkokrom, the District Capital of Kwahu Afram Plains North by relocating same to Bunso in Akyem.
We want to state unequivocally that we would resist all attempts by this government to deprive us the opportunity to benefit from the policy of the NDC government to build a campus of the University at Donkokrom.
It must be noted that the people of the Afram Plains North Constituency have not only been deprived of many basic necessities but also higher educational institutions for far too long.
It is clear that this government does not appreciate the plight of our people and further seeks to aggravate our sufferings by taking away our hope to better the lives of our youths and children.
We therefore want government to take note that we would vigorously resist any attempt to relocate the Donkokrom campus of the University to Bunso in Akyem.
Government’s response through the Press Secretary of the Minister of Education did not address the issues as expressed earlier.
What authority does EXIM Bank have to dictate to us about the location of this University especially when the facility we are procuring from them is a loan and not a grant?
Government must note that the location of this University campus in Donkorkrom will satisfy the need for fairness and equity as it will serve the entire Kwahu enclave and a section of people from the Volta region. Koforidua Technical University is situated among the people of Akyems and not far from Bunso.
There is also the Bunso Cocoa College situated right in the heart of Bunso offering options to the people of Akyem whilst the whole of Kwahu has none to boast of.
We have also heard with shock that the inaccessible nature of our transportation system is being used as an excuse to snatch this important infrastructure from us.
We want to state emphatically that it is not the duty of the citizens to create accessibility. The onus solely lies on the government and we believe that a government with the will to see Afram Plains grow and develop will not hesitate to provide same.
Afram Plains has suffered numerous painful neglect over the years because it is surrounded by water that did not originally exist and seems cut-off from the rest of the country.
These waters came about as a reason of the construction of the Akosombo Dam. However, this Dam is what has been serving the nation with electricity over the years. Do the people of Afram Plains deserve this neglect and underdevelopment even though our comfort has been sacrificed for the entire nation? We certainly deserve better.
The action of the Minister of Education is an act of discrimination against us for which the constitution clearly frowns upon by article 17 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.
We are tempted to state that the president of this country, His Excellency, Nana Addo Danquah AkufoAddo is involved in the relocation of the proposed Donkorkrom campus of the University to the president’s hometown in Akyem and thereby discriminating against us in favour of the people of his hometown.
We hope that the president would dispel any such valid temptation by putting the Minister of Education in order and ordering him to reverse the said discriminatory and nepotistic decision.
We also hope that the president and the Minister of Education will act swiftly in addressing our concerns in order to avert any foreseeable public disturbances within and outside the Constituency.
Signed
Hon. Betty Krosbi Mensah
MP, Afram Plains North Constitutuency.
Issued on the 9th day of November,2017
By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.coma