INTRODUCTION

The 2024 retail campaign led by Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah was the third arm of H.E. John Mahama's NDC campaign. The team embarked on a retail campaign in rural parts of the constituency, covering community to community, traditional areas, constituencies, and regions for almost three months.

CAMPAIGN EXPERIENCES

As stated earlier, we campaigned in very hard-to-reach rural communities to canvass for their votes and support for H.E. John Mahama and NDC parliamentary candidates across the country.

Through our journey, interactions, observations, and many more, we identified thematic areas of challenges that the Mahama and Jane NDC government must address.

DEVELOPMENTAL GAPS AND CHALLENGES

1. ROAD CHALLENGES

It will surprise you to know that the road projects the NPP government has been touting to have constructed are nowhere to be seen in the country.

Aside from regional capitals and some parts of major roads, almost all district roads are very bad with huge potholes and dust.

Solution: H.E. John Mahama's NDC government must prioritize all cocoa road projects for re-awarding and continuation by giving time limits for their completion with firm supervision to ensure quality work by the contractors for the roads to last.

Formation of a Cashew Board which will also take care of roads in cashew-growing communities in the Bono regions.

Lastly, the remaining roads should also be awarded for construction to boost the transportation of goods and people for economic growth.

All MMDCEs must be held accountable for any conflicts associated with project awards and construction.

2. TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK CHALLENGES

It is unfortunate that the sloganeering 'digitalization' is not felt in major parts of the country.

Most communities have been cut off from the world entirely and are living in ignorance or misinformation and disinformation since they don't have access to internet connectivity to cross-check facts and information. Chiefs, Assembly members, etc.

lamented on the repercussions on their education, health, and security, etc.

Solution: It is my suggestion that the next Minister for Telecommunication embark on holistic rural telecommunication connectivity in collaboration with MTN and Telecel companies across every community by building their poles and mast bags and ensuring there are continuous flows of telecommunication signals. This will go a long way to help with information dissemination, education, communication with families and loved ones, emergency situations, etc. It can be done before the end of this year's term of office.

3. PORTABLE WATER CHALLENGES

We say 'water is life,' but many are wallowing in dust and bushes without access to water, even as the rains didn't stop entirely. Most communities experience water challenges with people sharing waterlogged ponds with animals.

Solution: The government should take a keen interest in constructing dams and mechanized boreholes for the people in every community to take their burdens off. 21st-century people shouldn't be walking miles to go and fetch dirty water to cool and bathe.

The Pwalugu Dam should be taken care of fast to shoulder some communities.

4. HEALTH FACILITIES

Due to the roads' nature, and poor telecommunications networks, many communities are without accessible good health facilities.

Even those with CHP zones and Health centres are without drugs and logistics to work and take care of the health needs of the people. Some constituencies are without District Hospitals, e.g., WA East, etc.

In times of emergencies, the victims are then carried on motorbikes through deplorable roads and dust to very far to reach health facilities.

This leads to contamination of the injuries with dust and worsening of the health conditions in cases of fractures, labour, etc.

Solution: As a health professional with over 8 years of practice, I would love to suggest to H.E. John Mahama to intentionally embark on expansion projects of hospitals - CHP zones into Health Centers, Health Centers into Polyclinics by equipping the facilities with medication, logistics, and human resources by providing staff bungalows to entice the workers to those rural areas.

Train more nurses and post them timely with some incentives to entice them to work in those areas.

5. EDUCATION FACILITIES

We always say 'education is the master key,' but we hardly make conscious efforts to implement policies to ensure quality basic education in our rural communities. Having gone through most rural communities, we saw how communities are without proper school infrastructure and teachers.

Pupils are dirty without uniforms and shoes; some are under trees or temporal dilapidated structures with very limited chairs and tables.

6. ELECTRICITY EXPANSION CHALLENGES

If it hadn't been for this campaign, we wouldn't have known that some big communities are without electricity, even in the Ashanti Region. Some communities lack electricity poles, while others have outgrown their existing electricity infrastructure.

This leaves the communities in darkness at night, especially when engaging with people and driving through communities during campaigns.

Solution: Where electricity is lacking, Gridco and ECG must embark on "operation experience electricity." Where communities need extensions, there should be an "operation light every corner."

7. EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES

It is heartbreaking to see many people wallowing in abject poverty.

Their children, who are of age to help with jobs, also lack employment, leading to them living in villages and, in some cases, impregnating girls, starting another cycle of poverty.

H.E. John Mahama should fast-track the free apprenticeship programme to train many with skills, enabling them to secure employment.

Those with education should be considered for security services, allowing them to support their families. Providing a conducive environment with good policies and opportunities will give hope and faith to many, enabling them to thrive on their own.

8. FARMING SUPPORTS CHALLENGES

Rural communities are largely composed of farmers. With good roads and a farming support system, they will be able to produce foodstuffs to feed the entire country, reducing the importation of such goods.

Solution: I am happy that Mahama NDC's manifesto promises Farming Services Centres. We must ensure this policy is well-implemented to help our farmers access support for their farming endeavours.

CONCLUSION

Although the NDC has won the election massively, we must not take the people for granted if we intend to stay in government for long to reset the country.

The campaign experiences will guide some of us to continue reminding the NDC government to remember our campaign promises to the people and not be complacent and arrogant in power.

Thank you.