The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Daboya-Mankarigu Constituency must end its long-standing practice of changing parliamentary candidates almost every election cycle if the constituency is to achieve sustained development, Dr. Ahmed-Dawale Mohammed, a native of Daboya, has argued.
According to him, more than three decades of frequent changes in parliamentary representation have denied the constituency the continuity, experience and political influence required to attract and sustain major development projects.
Dr. Ahmed-Dawale, in an opinion piece, said the pattern had produced little developmental dividend, with many communities in the constituency still battling poor roads, inadequate infrastructure, limited electricity and telecommunications coverage, and inadequate healthcare.
He argued that “we cannot continue to start from zero every four years if we genuinely want development.”
He cited the constituency’s parliamentary history as evidence of the pattern, noting that the NDC has repeatedly changed its candidates since 1992, with Hon. Alhassan Aleadong representing the party in 1992, followed by Hon. Mahama Adam Sanka in 1996, Hon. Sammy B. Wusah in 2008, Hon. Baani Abudu in 2012 and Hon. Shaibu Mahama Obei in 2016 and 2024.
Dr. Ahmed-Dawale said the frequent turnover meant newly elected MPs often spent a significant portion of their first term learning parliamentary procedures, building relationships and developing the networks needed to influence national decision-making.
“Just when that MP begins to gain experience and influence, the constituency replaces them, forcing us to start all over again,” he said.
Case for Obei
Making a case for retaining the current MP, Hon. Shaibu Mahama Obei, beyond the 2028 elections, Dr. Ahmed-Dawale said the legislator had accumulated parliamentary experience and national influence that could be leveraged for the constituency’s development.
He noted that after his election in 2016, Mr. Obei served on Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee and later became Director of Legal at the Office of the Speaker of Parliament.
Following his return to Parliament in 2024, he was appointed Chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee — a position Dr. Ahmed-Dawale described as a significant achievement for both Mr. Obei and the Savannah Region.
He argued that replacing an MP after nearly a decade of building parliamentary experience, legal authority and national networks would amount to “resetting” the constituency’s progress.
Healthcare, education and roads
Dr. Ahmed-Dawale also pointed to what he described as gains under Mr. Obei’s leadership at the constituency level.
These, he said, include facilitating the posting of the first resident medical doctor to the district, refurbishing the Out-Patient Department and a ward at the Daboya Health Centre, and supporting the construction of an ultra-modern theatre and additional wards.
In education, he cited scholarships, awards for the three best BECE candidates from each Junior High School, common mock examinations, extra classes and stakeholder engagements aimed at addressing poor examination performance.
He also claimed that the MP had helped constituents secure recruitment opportunities in the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Education Service, GoldBod, banks, National Security and other institutions.
According to him, ongoing rural telephony and electricity extension projects, as well as efforts to return contractors to the Daboya-Bonsunu, Daboya-Mankarigu and Daboya township roads, were further signs of progress.
Damongo example
Dr. Ahmed-Dawale pointed to neighbouring Damongo as a case study in the benefits of political continuity.
He said the former Damongo-Daboya constituency also experienced frequent changes in parliamentary representation but began enjoying greater stability and sustained development after embracing continuity in parliamentary leadership from 2012.
“Many people within and outside the constituency acknowledge that Hon. Obei is performing creditably both in Parliament and at the constituency level,” he said.
He therefore urged NDC delegates and voters in Daboya-Mankarigu to reconsider the practice of replacing parliamentary candidates after a single term.
“The time has come for the people of Daboya-Mankarigu to break the cycle of changing Members of Parliament every four years,” Dr. Ahmed-Dawale said.
“We have followed that path for more than thirty years, and the result is nothing to boast of.”
He maintained that if accelerated development was the objective, continuity should become part of the constituency’s political culture.
“After investing nearly a decade in building parliamentary experience, legal authority, national networks and leadership influence, replacing Hon. Shaibu Mahama Obei in 2028 would once again reset the constituency’s progress,” he said.
He called for the constituency to “build on experience rather than discard it” and give continuity a chance.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
