Journalist dares Joe Ghartey

A journalist and constituent of Essikado-Ketan Constituency has dared the MP for the Area, Joe Ghartey who is also the Minister for Railway Development to mention and identify a single development project he has undertaken during his 16 years tenure as MP.

The journalist, Ekow Aidoo-Arthur, threw the challenge on his Facebook wall when the MP for Essikado-Ketan came out loudly in an attempt to silence his critics who say he has done nothing for his constituency.

The MP who is seeking re-election has come under fire for failing to undertake a single development project for the benefit of his constituents.

The first to throw the gauntlet was the NDC Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the Essikado Ketan Constituency, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah who dared the MP to come out to show a single development project he has undertaken since he started representing the people of Essikado 16 years ago.

The NDC PC asked the electorate of the constituency to show the MP the exit considering that he has failed for the past sixteen years to account for his stewardship as a Legislator in championing the interests and development of the constituency.

Not long after the NDC PC fired the MP, the latter came out to deny the accusation that he has failed to undertake a single development project for the benefit of his constituency.

Joe Ghartey described the NDC PC's accusation as a joke because he has proven to be a champion of change and development for the area.

Addressing journalists after an engagement with the Fijai Traditional Council, on some developmental initiatives taken since his election into office in 2005, Mr. Ghartey sounded confident about the positive impact he has made over the years.

He explained that the constituents will testify to the change he has made in their lives.

He recounted that there was no single road that linked Kojokrom to Essikado, when he was elected.

"It was a footpath but through ex-president Kufuor’s government, we managed to develop the constituency...we built schools and others. With Akufo-Addo, through the one million dollar per constituency, we’re improving lives and building infrastructure” he told Skyypower.com.

Chronicling some projects undertaken in Fijai alone since he took office in 2005, Joe Ghartey mentioned the Fijai JHS, asphalting of the West Fijai road, continuation of the Fija-Effia Nkwanta road, renovation of a 3-unit kindergarten block at Holy Child Practice School, construction of a toilet facility, renovation of Fijai Taxi rank station, construction of culverts and drains through the community.

Nevertheless, the journalist and constituent of Essikado-Ketan is not perturbed.

Ekow Arthur-Aidoo asked on his Facebook wall “Dear Joe Ghartey, where in Essikado-Ketan can we locate the unprecedented developmental projects you are talking about? What actually do you call developmental projects? Will you consider the roads in Kojokrom, Diabene, B.U., Essiam etc as part of your developmental projects?”.

The journalist continued: “Can you name one of these projects? Please be truthful and admit that you have failed as a Member of Parliament for that constituency”.

Joe Ghartey who has for the last sixteen years served as a legislator has faced no internal contest in his party.

But this time around, the former constituency chairman, James Obeng has picked up a nomination form to contest the MP. Obeng believes Joe Ghartey has deserted the constituency saying that he was more concerned about his ministerial duties.

For that reason, Obeng suggests the better Ghartey declined to contest the Essikado seat again, the better for the party so that NPP can wino the seat.

Obeng's reason is that, with Joe Ghartey as Parliamentary Candidate, the party could lose the seat to the opposition NDC.

Source: ghanaweb.com