Japhet Festus Gbede, an Assembly Member and member of the Akatsi South NDC communication team, has strongly dismissed claims suggesting a lack of development in the constituency under the leadership of Member of Parliament Bernard Ahiafor.
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In a detailed statement shared on Facebook, Hon. Gbede described such narratives as entirely inaccurate and unfair. He emphasized that Hon. Ahiafor’s leadership has always been rooted in quiet delivery, letting development speak for itself on the ground rather than chasing social media attention.
Hon. Gbede explained that context matters. Rt. Hon. Bernard Ahiafor entered Parliament in 2013 through a by-election during a period when Ghana’s governance was distracted by a Supreme Court election petition. Despite these early challenges, Hon. Ahiafor has worked tirelessly to ensure progress reaches every corner of Akatsi South, particularly in education, health, water, agriculture, electrification, employment, and youth empowerment.
Since returning to government on January 7, 2025, Hon. Ahiafor has secured and commenced several major education infrastructure projects including a 2-storey 12-unit classroom block and a 6-unit technical workshop at Avenorpeme Technical Institute, a 2-storey girls’ dormitory, three 3-storey semi-detached staff bungalows, and two 12-unit toilet facilities at Akatsi Senior High School, a 6-unit classroom block with 12-seater toilet at Dzogadze Basic School, 6-unit classroom blocks at Akeve Gui Basic School, Duawodome Basic School, and Anyiheme E.P. Basic School, and a 12-unit classroom block, administration block, and 18-room boys’ dormitory at AKAST.
Completed education projects include 6-unit classroom blocks at Wute, Logotey, Wuxor, Akuave, Dzrakate, Torve, and Kpohega, 4-unit classroom blocks at Kpevenu and Live Gakpokope, 3-unit classroom blocks at Afatsagbleve, Horti, Suipe, Glikpome, Torgodo, Have Glime, and Sremanu, and kindergarten blocks at Lume Ahugakope and Sremanu.
Mr. Gbede also noted that, Hon. Ahiafor has also implemented wide-ranging educational support initiatives. He donated 15 motorbikes to circuit supervisors and field officers, sponsored the 2021 and 2022 BECE mock examinations, built a football changing room at Akatsi College of Education, donated 50 desktop computers and established computer laboratories at multiple schools, provided tables and chairs for Avenor Senior High School Computer Lab, converted an old classroom at Atidzive into a dormitory for teacher mentees, and assisted 284 brilliant but needy students through the MP’s Support Fund, totaling over GHC 313,000. Rehabilitated schools include Adeheta, Tsigbene, Bata, Atidzive R/C, and Adetsewui Basic Schools.
In the health sector, Hon. Ahiafor has rehabilitated health centres in Gefia, Avenorpeme, Avenorpedo, and Wute, refurbished the Municipal Health Theatre, and begun construction of a CHPS compound at Asafotsi. A special eye screening initiative has also reached 1,791 residents.
Water and sanitation projects under his leadership include mechanized and regular water systems delivered to over 30 communities, including Klokpe, Atsekpui, Torve, Gefia, Torgodo, Ayitikope, Tsigbene, Adeheta, and Wlitey–Alagbokope. A water mechanization project is ongoing at Ayitikope, while additional water projects are underway at Agbaflome and Sesime.
In agriculture, Hon. Ahiafor has dredged the Ayitikope and Torve irrigation dams, donated farm equipment to the Best Municipal Farmer annually, and distributed fertilizers and farm tools across the municipality.
Rural electrification projects are ongoing in communities including Sadame, Alorkpa, Ablorkpo, Kpevenu, Lawui-Kpota, Kporwuvi, Adetsewui, Ablordevi, Wudoameta, Gandokope, Awata-Kpornyokope, Atsikope, Esusukope, Agordoe, Nugblebi, Dadame, Devevia and Devega, Ahlihave, Numagbea, Klaklakorpe, Ewekorpe, Amuzukorpe, Edzikorpe, Kekemekorpe, Wordikorpe, Ekporkorpe, Katakakorpe, Awukudiagbokorpe, Tsiadakorpe, and other communities.
In youth and community development, over 800 youth have been enrolled under the Bernard Ahiafor Skills Development and Youth Empowerment Programme. Constituents have been assisted to join security services and other employment sectors. Hon. Ahiafor also donated jerseys and footballs to 147 communities. Annual financial support ranging from GHC 1,000 to 5,000 has reached over 400 communities for local development initiatives.
Hon. Gbede concluded, “In recent days, some have tried to rewrite history by claiming no development exists in Akatsi South. Let the facts speak the results are on the ground, visible, and spreading across the constituency. Development in Akatsi South is real, and the work continues.”
