Constituency Focus - Kwadaso
The Kwadaso Constituency is one of two which were carved out of Bantama during the creation of additional constituencies in 2004 by the Electoral Commission.
It is one of the fastest growing constituencies in the Kumasi metropolis, and contains quite a significant number of the voting population, contributing the second highest number of votes to the opposition New Patriotic Party.
It was first represented in Parliament by Mrs. Josephine Hilda Addo, who occupied the seat for only one term, and was subsequently defeated in the 2007 primaries by the incumbent, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
The Kwadaso Constituency is made up of 14 major settlements. These are Apire, Nwamase, Nzema, Amanfrom, Kokode, Edwenase, Ohwimase, Denkyemmuoso and Techiman.
The rest are Kwadaso, Nyankyerenease, Apatrapa, Asuoyeboah and Tanoso. It is home to the famous not-completed and controversy-ridden Sofoline Interchange, and also hosts the Northern Command of the Four Battalion Infantry Brigade (4BN).
The Kwadaso Constituency also has other famous tertiary and pre-tertiary institutions, including the Kumasi Campus of the University of Education-Winneba (UEW-K), located at Tanoso, the
Kwadaso Agric College, the popular Prempeh College, and Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School (YAGSS).
Health-wise, the constituency is home to the SDA Hospital and Nursing Training College, which provide quality healthcare services to patients in and around the Ashanti Region, and also trains health personnel.
Profile MP Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is one of the sons of Baffour Osei Akoto, an illustrious and decorated politician and traditional leader, who served as Senior Linguist under three Ashanti Kings.
As you probably might know, the name 'Baffour Osei Akoto' is no stranger to Ghana politics, and was one of the 'tormentors-in-chief' of the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah administration. He is also credited with the formation of the National Liberation Movement, the antecedent of the current New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It is not surprising, therefore, that 11 years after the death of the great traditional leader, one of his sons currently plays a lead role in Ghanaian politics, and is one of the prominent figures in the NPP.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie is an Agric Economist and holds certificates from various recognised universities, both home and abroad.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Agric Economy from the University of Ghana, Legon. He further obtained his Master of Science (Msc) and Doctorate in Philosophy (PHD) in Agric Economics from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The MP has served on a number of international organisations, and has undertaken several consultancy services as a result of his expertise in Agriculture and Agric Economy.
Until 1999, Dr. Owusu Afriyie was the Chief Economic Advisor to the International Coffee Organisation under the United Nations, having served the position for 17 good years, before entering the Parliament of Ghana.
The MP owns a consultancy firm based in London, and is also the founder of Goldcrest Commodities, a commodity trading company, which is also the third largest cocoa buying company in the country.
He also owns Plantations Resources Limited, which has coffee, cocoa and oil palm plantations.
He is the Ranking Member, Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie had his basic education at the St. Joseph Basic School, Ash-Town, before proceeding to the Opoku Ware Senior High School, where he sat his 'O' Level and 'A' Levels examinations. He is 64 and married with six kids.
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Dr.Akoto planting one of the seedlings at 4BN Basic School
Vision Statement
To enhance the lives of the inhabitants of Kwadaso to the level acceptable to the modern world, and also work towards ensuring power for the NPP.
Mission Statement
To enhance the education, health and socio-economic development of his constituents.
Achievements as an MP
Dr. Owusu Afriyie is one of the few Members of Parliament in the Ashanti Region who can boast of significant achievements in his constituency.
The MP, since his election in 2008, has undertaken lots of projects and supported his constituency in the areas of health, education, environment and general wellbeing of the people.
He has embarked on the planting of teak trees at some basic schools in the constituency, as part of his objectives of ensuring environmental safety, and also provides economic benefits for the beneficiary schools.
The tree planting project is a unique model introduced by the MP to provide financial incentives, as well as protect the environment.
The MP has also supported sanitation programmes in the constituency, through the construction a modern toilet facility for the Kokode community, and also provided a number of sports items to schools as a means of improving sports development in the constituency.
In terms of educational infrastructure, the MP has constructed classroom blocks for various communities in the constituency, including a 3-unit classroom block at the Ohwimase Anglican School, 2 classroom blocks at the Nyankyerenease Methodist School, whilst two classroom blocks have also been constructed at the Prempeh College Experimental School.
Other communities like Kwadaso, Apatrapa, Takyiman, Amanfrom, Nwamase, Asuoyeboah and Tanoso have all benefitted from the initiatives of the MP, through the construction of schools, provision of water and sanitary facilities.
He has also provided educational scholarships to more than 100 students in the community, and also assisted with the renovation of school facilities at Yaa Asantewaa Girls SHS, Prempeh College, and Kwadaso SDA Hospital, among others.
The MP has the Apatrapa Community Clinic to his credit, and also supported the Methodist Women Training Centre at Kwadaso.
Some road projects embarked upon by the MP include the construction of a bridge linking Tanoso to Takyiman.
Work is currently ongoing for the construction of a Community Clinic and classroom blocks at Edwenase and Beposo respectively.
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Sofoline Interchange
Prospective Projects
The MP says he is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to better the lives of the people in his constituency, through improved health care delivery and education. To this end, his main focus has been to work towards the provision of quality and adequate infrastructure that would help achieve these objectives.
The provision of healthcare clinics in every community, and the construction of additional classrooms to reduce congestion in all the 14 communities by the end of his second term are the major prospective projects.
The MP is hopeful that the large number of teacher to pupil ratio could be reduced, if adequate classrooms are constructed in all basic schools in the community.
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The Kokode Toilet Facility
Socio-Economic Environment
Due to its strategic position as the gateway to the Kumasi Metropolis from the East, the Kwadaso Constituency abounds with lots of business opportunities that are yet to be exploited.
Until the commencement of the construction of the Sofoline Interchange, one of the major markets that rivaled that of Kejetia was the Sofoline and Kwadaso market.
The markets were once major hubs for small scale and non-formal businesses, including the buying and selling of farm produce.
It is important to stress, however, that these business opportunities may have been stalled because of the ongoing construction of the Sofoline Interchange that is yet to be completed.
Residents of Kwadaso Constituency mainly deal in the buying and selling of fast moving consumer goods, household appliances, and wholesale and retail of products.
The people also own large cocoa farms and plantations in the Western part of the country, particularly Sefwi, Bekwai and Asawinso.
The Kwadaso Wood Market is also a major supplier of furniture and other kinds of wood products.
The constituency also has major institutions and attractive places, including the 4BN, which headquarters the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Prempeh College, the Agric College, UEW-Kumasi Campus, and the Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School (YAGSS).
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The Edwenase Community Clinic under construction
Challenges
Though the Kwadaso Constituency is part of Kumasi, it is considered the rural component of the one-time Bantama Constituency. Because of this, it is way behind, in terms of infrastructure, education, sanitation and health.
The situation, therefore, presents serious socio-economic developmental challenges to the constituency.
The delay in the completion of the Sofoline Interchange is another major challenge confronting the Kwadaso Constituency, because it is creating severe inconveniences for its residents.