Mathew Atanga, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication Officer for the Kintampo South Constituency in the Bono East Region has stated that the Member of Parliament for the area knows nothing about the rehabilitation work of the broken down Jema Water System.
He said that former first lady Mrs. Lordona Mahama at Nananuum’s request, repaired the damaged water infrastructure for the people of Jema.
At a press conference in the constituency, Mathew Atanga addressed the false reportage by some media outlets, that Alexander Gyan, NPP MP for the area, was responsible for fixing the Water system.
The communication officer stated that during John Mahama’s presidency, there were water issues in the then Brong Ahafo Region. He revealed that the Mahama administration collaborated with Alliance Francaise De Development to secure an 18.6 million Euro grant for a water project across the entire region and that the Ghana Water Company assisted in the creation of Small Town Water systems in deserving communities of the region.
He described how the Jema Water System broke down and posed serious issues for the people, prompting the chief of Jema to seek assistance from the Bono East Regional Minister Hon Adu Gyan, who dispatched experts to evaluate the system but never returned to carry out any work on it. The chief, he claimed, also requested assistance from the MP, Alexander Gyan, who never made any efforts to fix the problem.
According to the Kintampo South Constituency communicator, during John Mahama’s visit to Jema last year, the Chief asked him to help rebuild the Water System. The former First Lady contacted Nananom for additional information, and it was found that a new pump was required. He stated that the pump was promptly acquired and repairs commenced. Her Excellency Lordina Mahama paid a visit to the region a week ago to commission engineers to work on the water system which has since been completed.
Mathew Atanga bemoaned Alex Gyan’s efforts to take credit for repair work he did not know of, encouraging the MP to act professionally and with respect for his office. He has also advised the media to be cautious in their reporting and urged Nananom in Jema to never hesitate to seek support from the NDC since the NPP government has neglected them.
Find the full press statement below:
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC), KINTAMPO SOUTH CONSTITUENCY
PRESS STATEMENT
HON ALEXANDER GYAN AND HIS NPP MUST DESIST FROM CLAIMING GLORY FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE JEMA WATER SYSTEM.
Good day fellow comrades, media men present and those listening to us via the various information centers, Ladies and Gentlemen. Before I proceed, let me state that, this press conference is in response to an erroneous impression being created by publications in some media outlets notably Adom TV, Adars FM, Zone FM and Kintampo Radio which seeks to suggest that Hon Alexander Gyan was the one behind the Jema Water system repair works recently undertaking.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is trite knowledge that Hon Alexander Gyan’s penchant scuffle for projects being undertaking in the district by NDC, has not started today. If you recall, sometime past while Hon Felicia Adjei was still the MP and Hon Alex Gyan a DCE, Felicia initiated a police station project in Anyima. All preparations were carried out and the project set to take off. Hon Alexander Gyan emerged at the eleventh hour and also began building a police post in Anyima few meters from where Hon Felicia Adjei had earmarked to build the police station. It brought needless brouhaha between he Hon Alex Gyan and Hon Felicia Adjei and dragged in Nana Anyimahene.
Again in a similar fashion, Hon Felicia Adjei initiated a KG block project in Bosomkai. She had secured the land, moulded blocks and masons were on site digging foundation. But in a dramatic turn of events, this same Hon Alex who is notorious for causing pandemonium at projects sites, quickly brought few trips of sand to same site that Hon Felicia Adjei was building the KG block. Ladies and Gentlemen, just like it happened in Anyima, it was all over the news with Hon Alex granting interviews here and there. But even with all that, Hon Felicia Adjei managed to complete the building and as we speak now, there are students in the structure. God bless her.
Fellow comrades, those doing the listening at home, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me without wasting much time zoom into the main issue for the day; the Jema Water System. Following the history that I have laid out here, I think you should by now know who Hon Alexander Gyan is.
The brief history on this water system is as follows; During the time of His Excellency John Dramami Mahama as president, there was this peculiar water problem facing most towns and villages in Brong Ahafo Region. So the government entered into an agreement with the French government through the Alliance Francaise De Development. In the agreement, the French agency mentioned above, were to provide a grant of 18.6 million Euros for the project covering the entire Brong Ahafo Region. The John Mahama government through the Ghana Water Company were to facilitate for the establishment of the Small Town Water systems for deserving towns within Brong Ahafo Region.
Here in Kintampo South District, the Small Town Water system can be found in Anyima, Ampoma and Jema. Indeed, measures were put in place for Nananom and the committees to adopt measures to manage the water systems. But that is not our interest in this press conference, maybe we shall talk about that some other time.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Jema Water System was broken down for relatively a longer time posing serious challenges for the people of Jema. As a result, we are reliably told, the chief of Jema reached out to the Bono East Regional Minister Hon Adu Gyan who also hails from Jema to assist in restoring the system. The minister sent people to do assessment of the entire system but after assessment they went and never returned. The Chief, we again learnt also fell on the MP Hon Alexander Gyan to assist, but he also wasn’t fourth coming with any help.
So when His Excellency John Dramami Mahama during his recent visit to Jema, the Chief again ceased the opportunity and appealed to him to assist them restore the Water System, for they say “water is life”. Friends from the media, following this appeal, the Former First Lady reached out to Nananom for further and better particulars on the system. The necessary assessment was done and it was concluded that, a new pump had to be provided. Immediately, the pump was acquired and all necessary preparations done for the repairs work to commence.
However, on the day of the presentation of the pump, we who had gathered at the Jema Chief palace to wait for the arrival of the former First Lady, noticed something unusual. Well, I must say it was unusual to some people but for me, I already know the confusion that Hon Alex is capable of staging at such important occasions. And let me also add that, even while we were waiting for Lordina’s arrival, she had through her advance team, sent the water pump which was kept at the forecourt of the palace to the view of Nananom and everyone else around. A white pickup with a host of NPP executives drove in. They had media men following them. They brought out something in a box which looked like a water pump. Well, in a surprise mood, we all moved closer to them to monitor what they were in the chief palace to do on the same day that Mrs JM was visiting the chiefs.
Ladies and Gentlemen, they quickly presented the pump to the chiefs, made some of the chiefs to speak to the media and off they went. It was a mega display of drama that day. Just as they were leaving, then Her Excellency Lordina Mahama also arrived in her convoy. She presented the pump to Nananom and also commissioned the engineers to start work on the water system. Pictures of the colourful presentation are all over the media for anyone who wishes to verify.
As we speak now, the work has completed. However, Nananom are collaborating with Lordina’s team in the region to provide steady electricity for the water system to flow without hitches. So when we heard from the media that, Hon Alex Gyan has repaired the water system, we were shocked. You see, we know that he heard from people close to Nananom that, Lordina was coming to work on the water system and quickly in order to save his face, acted in that unprofessional manner. If indeed it was their planned program to do that presentation, why was none of the government officials, be it the DCE, the MP or even the District Coordinating Director present at the event? Why were they not present, we demand to know!
Now we want advise that, Hon Alexander Gyan should begin to conduct himself in a manner that befits his office as MP. This primitive approach to such issues is not only embarrassing to his personality but also to the office that he occupies. Yes, Nananom had reached to him earlier for assistance, but he failed to deliver. So if they turned their hopes to NDC and the assistance comes, why should he have problem with that? Seeking to undermine the support of the Former First Lady in such an embarrassing manner must be condemned.
In any case, couldn’t he have tackled something else to help Jema progress instead, he resorted to providing pump which had already been provided by the Former First Lady. That was a complete misplaced priority and a case of waste of public funds. There are other equally pressing developmental issues in the district that need urgent attention, so why does the MP always wait for NDC to start something for him to come and try to disrupt it? That is shameful!
On this note and having set the records straight on the matter, we want to employ you the media to help us correct the erroneous impression created out there. Tell your listeners the truth which is; Our Mother Lordina Mahama is the one who repaired the water system and no one else. We want to urge Nananom in Jema and anywhere in the district, not to hesitate to approach the NDC for any support. The NDC is coming to power in December and with His Excellency John Dramami Mahama and Hon Felicia Adjei, we in Kintampo South are rest assured with massive development in all sectors.
We thank you all for coming and for your attention.
May God bless NDC!
Long live Ghana!
Signed:
Mathew Atanga
Comm. Officer
Kintampo South constituency