Hon. Gershon K.B. Gbediame Awards 30 Scholarships

02.12.2010 LISTEN

“My priority is to focus on education". These are the words of Hon. Gershon K.B. Gbediame; one of Ghana's longest sitting parliamentarians. Having occupied the Nkwanta-South Constituency seat for the past 13 years, and having successfully gone through four consecutive elections, he is no doubt one of the finest parliamentarians around. The Hon. MP who also doubles as the Chief whip of the Majority Caucus in the House has won and sustained the admiration of his constituents over the years. So how the MP secure his constituents' admiration over the years? In an interview with the TIMELINE in Accra, the Hon. MP said since coming into power, he has concerned himself with improving the lives of his constituents mainly in the areas of education and provision of potable water.

Education
He told the TIMELINE that he supports students who have excelled in their WASCE and have gained admission into the tertiary institutions by paying for their admission fees and registration processes. Students from these areas, he noted are less privileged as compared with their colleagues in the cities in terms of inadequate teachers and educational materials. Most parents also find it difficult to raise such sum of money to pay for their wards' admissions. Such students therefore receive financial aid from the MP in order to secure their admissions.

According to Hon. Gbediame, more than 100 students have benefited from this facility since 2004. This year alone, 30 students have secured admission into the University of Ghana through this facility. He said some continuing students who are having difficulties in paying their fees also receive aid from this facility. To access this facility, he said students need to apply to his office for financial aid. “every student in my constituency has my number” he added.

Coming down to the Senior High Schools level, the Hon. MP pointed out that he has also been involved in periodic registration of SHS students whose parents are unable to pay for their wards' WASCE registration due to financial limitations. In 2004 for instance, he registered 35 students from one particular school whose parents could not afford their wards' WASCE registration fees.

The basic schools have also not been left out. Hon. Gbediame indicated that he has been actively involved in the infrastructural development of the basic schools by way of providing them with building materials, computers, and furniture.

Provision of potable water
Another social intervention programme put in place by the Hon. Gbediame is the provision of potable water. He recalled how the area used to be the leading community in terms of Guinea Worm infestation countrywide due to lack of safe drinking water. “Fortunately, this situation has improved considerably through the interventions by institutions such as the Danish international Development Agenda (DANIDA), World Vision International and Hunger and Poverty Reduction Foundation (HUPREF) through drilling of boreholes.” he said.

In drilling the boreholes however, the communities are expected to pay about 5% of the total drilling cost which they are often unable to pay due to the low level income of the inhabitants. Hon. Gbediame said he always comes in to pay these monies on behalf of these communities to enable them to have access to the boreholes.

He added that he has contracted a mechanic who regularly repairs the broken down wells to prevent the people from going back to the streams to avert possible guinea worm re-infestation.

Health
Health wise, Hon. Gbediame said he has collaborated with the district directorate of health to furnish the health centers built in the area under the Community-Based Health Improvement Scheme (CHIPS).

Funding
Hon. Gbediame said he makes good use of his share of the Mp's common fund to finance these developmental projects. Other sources of funding include the GETFUND, HIPIC fund and in some instance his personal money.

Challenges
Hon. Gbediame was quick to admit that, his four terms in office as an MP has not been without challenges. Notable among them is the fact that, the between the MP and the district assembly, the people are ignorant as to where to place their demands in terms of development. “Their first point of call is the MP when they need development. Meanwhile it is the district Assemblies that are empowered to do developmental works in the districts. That is why a larger chunk of the fund meant for developmental works goes to the District Assemblies.” he said. Secondly, constituents are unable to differentiate between community and individual needs.

Way Forward
Hon. Gbediame pointed out that most of these challenges could be solved if people are well informed and educated on local governance. He called on the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the parliamentary Press Corp to intensify education of the citizenry on the decentralization processes.

Brief Background
The Nkwanta-South Constituency is mainly a farming community in the Volta Region with about150, 000 voter population. The indigenes engage in subsistence farming for livelihood. Hon. Gbediame admitted that even though the area is deprived of certain basic social amenities such as good roads he still tries to do his best “As I speak with you now, there is not even a single kilometer of tarred road in the area.” he lamented.