The mining town of Obuasi has faced criticism for its lack of development, especially when compared to other prominent mining cities. Despite its gold mining history dating back to 1897, Obuasi’s progress has not mirrored that of Johannesburg, resulting in significant developmental gaps between the two cities.
Independent parliamentary candidate Kofi Appianin Ennin, contesting the December 2024 elections for the Obuasi West constituency, is determined to change this narrative. At a recent health walk and campaign launch designed to energize his supporters, he laid out his development plans focused on sports, health, tourism, infrastructure, and agriculture.
Entitled “My Road Map for the Journey to Foster Growth, Uplift Lives, and Build Obuasi Communities for a Brighter Future,” Ennin’s manifesto aims to address the challenges faced by the Obuasi West constituency and drive meaningful development.
Sports Development
In the realm of sports, Ennin emphasized his commitment to revitalizing local football by motivating the newly established Ashanti Gold FC to quickly secure a division one slot. After Ashgold FC’s suspension from the Ghana Premier League due to match-fixing, he has launched a new Division 2 club, Ashgold FC, with the ambition of guiding it to the premier league.
He also plans to advocate for AstroTurf projects, sponsor local football tournaments, and support the revival of the Colts league with necessary equipment and funding.
Infrastructure Development
For infrastructure, Ennin pledged to advocate for extensive construction of rural feeder roads to facilitate efficient transportation of farm produce. This initiative includes building essential bridges linking agricultural areas and developing key infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, shopping malls, and the ambitious reconstruction of Obuasi city.
Women’s Empowerment
With a history of supporting over 2,630 women traders with GH₵2 million in interest-free loans, Ennin intends to introduce the Appianin Women Empowerment Scheme, designed to provide additional financial support and empower women to contribute significantly to their households.
Child Health Support
To enhance child health, Ennin plans to establish a fund dedicated to assisting children with serious health conditions, emphasizing that a healthy community is essential for prosperity.
He aims to promote preventive healthcare using affordable advanced health assessment technologies, ensuring access to clean drinking water and a pollution-free environment. His health sector revival policies will include training for all health workers, providing buses for health workers, and offering free health insurance for the elderly and disabled.
Small-Scale Mining
On small-scale mining, Ennin aims to negotiate with AngloGold Ashanti to transfer some of their abandoned mining sites to the community. He also plans to ensure proper training on tools and equipment for small-scale miners and implement safety measures for their operations.
Education
Acknowledging education as the cornerstone of the constituency’s future, Ennin vowed to uphold the free SHS program initiated by the NPP administration, provide continuous training for teachers, and expedite nursing education.
He emphasized the importance of cultural education in schools and pledged competitive scholarships to eliminate financial barriers for talented youth.
Edward Ennin, a former MP for the Obuasi East Constituency and relative of Kofi Appianin Ennin, urged supporters to vote for Ennin, asserting that he is the best candidate to drive development in the constituency.
