Manhyia South Constituency residents are voicing outrage over the former MP’s allocation of funds to fire victims, citing neglect of local development needs.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, former Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, has come under fire for his decision to allocate GH₵100,000 from the constituency’s Common Fund to assist victims of the Adum BlueLight fire, which destroyed over 2,000 shops.
The fire, which ravaged approximately 2,000 shops, prompted Dr. Prempeh to visit the site on Tuesday to offer condolences and donations.
Dr. Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, donated GH₵50,000 and 500 bags of cement from his personal resources. Additionally, he revealed that unused funds from the Manhyia South Common Fund were available and stated that he had appealed to the current MP, Lawyer Baffour Awuah, to allocate GH₵100,000 from these funds to assist the fire victims.
However, this decision has sparked backlash from some constituents who believe the funds should have been directed toward addressing developmental challenges within Manhyia South.
Many residents argue that the constituency faces significant hardships, including poor infrastructure and economic struggles, which they feel should have been prioritized.
Some citizen’s of Ashtown speaking in an interview with Kumasimail.com voiced their concerns:
Ama Konadu: “There are elderly people in Ashtown suffering without food or basic amenities. Our gutters flood every time it rains. Instead of helping us, NAPO is donating funds to people outside our area. He should return the money for our development.”
Maame Bour also said “The money was meant for developing Ashtown. NAPO didn’t use it for development during his tenure as MP. Now he’s using it for personal political gains. We need development in our constituency, not donations for political points.”
Another resident with the name Osei Agyeman emphasized “I was initially worried when I heard about it. While it’s good to help our brothers and sisters affected by the fire, future decisions like this should involve consultation with us.”
Residents have called on Dr. Prempeh to reconsider his approach and ensure that unused funds are utilized for projects benefiting Manhyia South directly.
This controversy highlights tensions between political figures and their constituents over resource allocation. Many residents are demanding accountability and a focus on addressing local challenges rather than external crises.
watch Public reaction
Source: www.kumasi.mail.com
