Constituency Watch: Ashaiman in focus

The Ashaiman Constituency, located in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, is a vibrant and densely populated area with over 208,060 people according to the Population and Housing Census.

The population is predominantly young, with over 60% under the age of 35 which presents both opportunities as well as challenges for the constituency.

It is bordered by other constituencies such as Tema East, Tema West, and Kpone Katamanso.

As a youthful population, a major concern voiced by the Ashaiman residents is the high rate of youth unemployment. With limited job prospects, many young people in the constituency expressed feelings of frustration and a lack of economic opportunity thereby resorting to unscrupulous activities.

“We don’t have jobs to do as youths and so we sell even though we don’t have a place, yet the tax force keeps pestering us as if we’ve stolen,” a market woman lamented.

“As a youth there is no work for us, we are suffering so the government must do something for us. I’m currently into the mobile money business after completing SHS and couldn’t finance my education. I am engaged in this business to cater for myself and my young ones,” A young vendor described his situation.

The challenges in the community are limitless.

“We don’t get a place to sell. We won’t vote because the government promised a lot, but nothing is done,” some hawkers around the market square expressed their frustration.

“Our roads are so bad, I wear nose masks because of the dust else I will get cold,” a young hawker expressed how bad the situation has been affecting them.

“Petrol has become too expensive compared to the year 2016. I’m a strong NPP but I don’t know who to vote for,” a motor rider also stated.

Speaking in an interview with the MCE, Albert Boakye Okyere, he highlighted the ongoing development efforts by the local government as well as the future projects which will take effect soon.

“The new market under construction is going to house over 1,000 shops and other open spaces for other trading activities in there. Sanitation was the biggest challenge we had apart from security. Those days when you enter Ashaiman, all you could see was people squatting around regardless of their sex. People who knew Ashaiman then think it still is so but it is not.

“The good news is that we have been told by the Ministry that some road equipment will be sent to us, and I believe when we take possession of these tools, the very bad ones that are unmotorable can be brought into a good shape,” he said.

The Ashaiman Constituency has been an NDC stronghold, with the party winning the MP seat since 1992.

The year 2000 witnessed a close competition, as the NPP narrowly surpassed the NDC with 49.50% of the votes compared to the NDC’s 48.80%.

The NDC experienced a slight net loss of -0.70% in this election. This trend continued in the 2020 elections, with the NDC’s candidate Ernest Henry Norgbey emerging victorious with 73,316 votes against the NPP’s Labaran Yakubu Barry, who secured 45,730 votes.

However, despite the NDC’s long-standing dominance in the constituency, will they be able to secure the seat again in the upcoming elections in light of these lingering concerns from the people of Ashaiman?