Residents of Kojokrom in the Western Region have voiced their discontent and disappointment over the community’s lack of progress and development, despite numerous appeals to authorities.
During an appearance on Channel One TV’s Community Forum in the Essikado-Ketan constituency in the Western Region, concerned residents highlighted the dire need for improvement in various sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
A driver, Mr. Yale, slammed the Member of Parliament, Joe Ghartey, and President Akufo-Addo for failing to address the community’s needs.
He lamented the poor state of the road network, which has led to him selling his car due to maintenance costs. He also questioned the government’s commitment to improving the lives of drivers in the community.
He said, “The road is very bad here. Because of the road, I had to sell my car because I could not afford vehicle maintenance. Now, I’m using someone’s car to work because I cannot afford daily repairs.
“The dollar is always going high. Akufo-Addo, is it our fault we voted for you? Because I don’t get it. You don’t care about the drivers here. Joe Ghartey has been in power for almost 20 years, yet our roads are very bad. Now, you want your votes so you’ll come with T-shirts and other things to convince us.”
Another resident, Naomi, expressed her concerns about the community’s dwindling trade and commerce, inadequate healthcare services, and subpar education system.
She criticised both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for failing to address these pressing issues.
Naomi highlighted the community’s healthcare situation, where patients are often forced to purchase medications despite having National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) coverage.
She also decried the ineffective Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound near the market.
The free Senior High School (SHS) policy has also been marred by poor implementation, with students often spending months at home due to a lack of resources.
Residents called for immediate attention to be paid to these issues, including the construction of a footbridge to facilitate movement in the area.
They also urged both political parties to take their concerns seriously and work towards improving the lives of Kojokrom residents.
“Development is extremely poor in this community. Kojokrom was once a thriving trade hub, but currently, there is no progress. Furthermore, the ongoing construction of a railway and fencing around it will restrict our access routes. We suggest building at least a footbridge for our use. The health situation in this community is also dire.”
“We previously had a CHPS compound near the market, but patients are forced to purchase medications despite having National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) coverage. The free Senior High School (SHS) policy has both positive and negative effects.
“Although it’s a good initiative, the implementation is severely flawed. Students often stay home for months due to a lack of resources, rendering the education ineffective for those unable to attend extra classes.
“We feel both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) have taken us for granted.”
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