Ketu South MP Under Fire for Calling for Division of Her Constituency
- Ketu South MP Dzifa Abla Gomashie called for the division of her constituency, arguing it is necessary to improve governance and development
- The call was supported by many, including party officials, but locals were not too enthusiastic, calling it a "lazy man's approach"
- Some political commentators have questioned the rationale behind the thinking since some other constituencies in Ghana are more populated
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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South, Dzifa Abla Gomashie, has ignited a fervent debate following her recent call for the division of her constituency.
Source: Facebook
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Thursday, September 11, the Tourism, Arts, and Culture minister emphasised that the welfare of the people should take precedence over political pride associated with managing a large voter base.
Her remarks have drawn both support and sharp criticism from various quarters, highlighting the complex political and developmental considerations at play.
The MP's rationale and historical context
Gomashie made her stance clear, explaining that she would support the division of her constituency because it is too large and the challenges that come with managing it are overwhelming. She added that, deep down, she believes all the MPs who served before her would agree with this view.
This sentiment finds strong backing from Bright Dzila, the Ketu South Municipal Director of NHIS and NDC Constituency Communication Officer.
Dzila asserts that the issue of dividing Ketu South is far from new, predating Gomashie's tenure.
According to her, she doesn't even know why this is an issue.
Dzila further elaborated on the historical context, explaining that the discussion has been ongoing since the time of former MP Fiifi Kwetey, particularly during the creation of new districts.
“The issue about dividing Ketu South is not an issue introduced by the MP. Even before Dzifa Abla Gomashie became MP, this issue has been on the table since Fiifi [Kwetey]'s time...when there was the creation of new districts.
It even became an issue as some asked why Ketu South was not divided and rather elevated to a municipality,” he noted.
According to Dzila, the division even became a political promise during the 2020 and 2024 campaigns of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He added that extensive consultations were held, with chiefs and constituents largely supporting the idea of creating a new district to foster improved development.
He concluded by attributing much of the current opposition to personal animosity or political differences.
Bright Dzila suggested that much of the opposition stems from personal dislike, ignorance, or simply because some individuals do not belong to the ruling NDC.
Counterarguments and public scepticism
Despite the MP's rationale and Dzila's defence, the call for division has been met with significant resistance.
Epiphany Ativor, a media personality and entrepreneur based in Aflao, expressed strong disapproval, suggesting that such calls indicate a disconnect from current realities.
Epiphany argued that any MP still calling for the division of a constituency has lost touch with reality, stressing that such conversations are no longer a priority for citizens since they seem to focus more on political influence than true development.
Epiphany criticised the approach as simplistic, advocating for legislative action to strengthen local government structures instead.
He claimed that, instead of some of these MPs calling for the division of their constituencies like Abla Dzifa Gomashie, they should rather channel their energies into making legislation that adds more bite to the local government structure and administration.
He termed calling for the division of a constituency in today's Ghana "a lazy man's approach".
Manfred Atidepe, a civil servant, echoed similar concerns, arguing against the division by pointing to other, more populated constituencies that have not been divided.
“I disagree with the call to divide Ketu South Municipality. This call is only political to impose costs on the citizens and benefit the political class. Ga West, Ga East, Kwabre East, Techiman, Tamale South, Sagnarigu, Gomoa East, and Kpone are more populated than Ketu South, according to the 2021 population census. Should they also be divided?” he asked.
Atidepe further contended that genuine development would stem from central government initiatives rather than administrative divisions.
He said dividing the constituency will not bring development further, positing that the development of Ketu South can only be a deliberate action from the central government.
The local sentiment in Aflao also reflects a degree of disillusionment.
A native identified as Neter voiced a critical perspective, linking the MP's actions to potential political repercussions for President Mahama.
“This woman [is] the reason President Mahama will be tarnished black [in] Ketu South... because she is of no use to us. Come and develop our towns; now you are busy calling for division amongst us,” Neter wrote in a Facebook post.
The debate surrounding the proposed division of the Ketu South constituency underscores a broader tension between administrative efficiency, political considerations, and the aspirations for local development.
While Dzifa Abla Gomashie and her supporters argue for the necessity of division to enhance governance and development, critics view it as a politically motivated move that fails to address the core developmental challenges.
Source: Getty Images
Border community shifts to CFA, sparking concern
Previously, YEN.com.gh reported that Gakli residents in Ketu South are no longer using the Cedi as a currency, using the CFA for transactions instead.
The MCE for the area held a presser and warned residents of the area against the rejection of Ghana's currency.
The Gakli community is situated on the Ghana-Togo border and hosts thousands of Togolese nationals.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
