Muntaka Muhammed: A precious figure Asawase must retain

I have seen Honourable Muhammed Muntaka Mubarak, the Member of Parliament for the Asawase constituency ones, when he was addressing a crowd in the Asawase community in 2016. But I admire his immense influence both at the national and at the constituency level. I can vouch for his sterling leadership traits, lobbying skills and his unflinching love and concern for the people of the Asawase constituency, based on the developmental projects he has successfully lobbied for the constituency when his party was in power. Ever since he burst onto the political scene in 2005, he has gone on to become arguably the most influential political figure from the Zongos in this country, note: not from the North but from the Zongo. There is difference between the two.

Muntaka Muhammed is an institution in terms of political knowledge and understanding of the parliamentary affairs. The massive transformation that has been witnessed in the Asawase constituency in areas such as Buorbai, Parkoso, Asebe, Sepe, Sawaba, Mampong and the surrounding communities could not have happened without the efforts and zeal of Honourable Muntaka. The infrastructural development in the Asawase constituency cannot be matched by any other constituency in the Ashanti region and has often been used by other constituents in the region as a yardstick to judge the performances of their own members of parliament.

Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has been the Member of Parliament for the Suame constituency since 1996, however, infrastructural development in the constituency remains one of the worse in the Ashanti region, no wonder he was recently hooted at by his constituents. Manhyia South, and North, Subin constituency and the Kwabre west all in the region have seen little or no development under this President Akufo-Addo and Bawumia led administration. Kwabre East and worse has the most deplorable roads in the region.

However, between 2009 and 2016, the Asawase constituency has witnessed inestimable developmental projects, all due to the leadership of Hon. Muntaka, his ability to lobby is perfect. He has a great working relationship with former president John Dramani Mahama that is his weapon which he will use to bring more projects to Asawase after 2024 when the NDC wins the elections. The objective truth is that, Hon. Muntaka’s lobbying skills and influence led to the realisation of the Asawase township roads which are arguably the best road networks in the capital. Through his influence, the Asawase market project was achieved.

Love him or loathe him, Hon. Muntaka remains the best choice for the people of Asawase, he is a towering figure, an epitome of parliamentary knowledge, and an invaluable asset for the people of the Asawase constituency. Each time I’m in Ghana, driving through the constituency is safe either day or night, because of the quality nature of the roads and the street lights. One thing the constituency do not lack is social amenities to his impeccable lobbying skills when the NDC was in power between 2009 and 2017.

As we delve into the deep oceans of the 2024 general elections, with all indicators pointing towards a victory for John Mahama, it will be suicidal for the people of Asawase to vote against Hon. Muntaka and bring in a novice at this crucial moment. Realistically speaking, it will be counterproductive to replace an astute, experienced and an influential politician as Hon. Muntaka with the NPP’s candidate who will only be an obscured back-bencher without influence whatsoever. Yes, the NPP’s candidate will have absolutely no influence in parliament even in the most highly unlikely event that the NPP wins the elections (perish the thought), because even the experienced and influential NPP MPs from the Ashanti region have not been able to attract any significant or meaningful developmental projects to their constituencies, needless to talk of an obscured back-bencher. That will be a massive set back, because, with Muntaka’s nexus at the zenith echelon of the next NDC government, Asawase will see a repeat of the developments it enjoyed between 2009 and 2017 if Hon. Muntaka is retained, this time the focus is most likely to be on job opportunities for the youth.

I therefore crave the indulgence of the good people of Asawase constituency to vote massively for John Dramani Mahama and Hon. Muntaka Mubarak on 7th December 2024 for more developmental projects, because one good turn deserves another.

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