Bono NPP hits back at "Sunyani deserves better’" demonstrators. Describing their allegations as baseless.

The Bono Regional Communications Directorate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rubbished claims by the ‘’Sunyani deserves better’’ demonstrators who claim that the Bono Regional capital is lacking behind development under this government.

The NPP in the Bono region noted that the Akufo-Addo led government continues to pay serious attention to most of the developmental needs of the Bono regional capital and the region as a whole.

Setting the records straight on some allegations raised by the "Sunyani deserves better” demonstrators, the Regional NPP Director of Communications, Seth Asare-Bediako, stated that the allegations raised by the group were unfounded.

About two weeks ago, some demonstrators led by the Sunyani Youth Development Association, Sunyani for Development Association and other interest group staged a demonstration on the streets of the city to register their grievances as far as development of the town is concerned. They however accused the current government and the previous ones of abandoning various developmental projects in the area as well as not giving the town its fair share of the national cake.

They mentioned the delay in completing the Regional Library project, the Sunyani Airport expansion project, inner-city roads and the absence of a modern sports stadium as some of their main concerns.

In reaction, the Bono Regional NPP stated categorically that the Regional Library project has not been abandoned by the Akufo-Addo led administration as claimed by the demonstrators.

On the contrary, the project which was started under President J.A Kufuor’s regime was totally  abandoned  throughout the eight years of the Mills Mahama NDC regime.

“It is however refreshing to note that construction works have resumed upon the assumption of office by President Akufo-Addo in January 2017. In fact, portions of the project have been completed with some workers currently using them while strenuous efforts are being made to complete the rest of this monumental project.”

On the Sunyani Airport expansion project, Mr. Asare-Bediako, who is popularly known as ABS, clarified that the project has seen massive rehabilitation expansion works under this current NPP government than any government since it was constructed by the Progress Party led by Dr. K.A Busia in 1969.

“On records, the Sunyani Airport, which was constructed in 1969 by Ghana’s Prime Minister of the Second Republic, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, was shut down in 2015 due to its deplorable state at the time. As acknowledged by the demonstrators, this current NPP government has since the last three to four years been undertaking massive expansion works at the Airport”, he explained.

Seth Asare-Bediako added, “We want to inform the good people of Sunyani and indeed the entire region and neighboring regions that the First Phase of the Sunyani Airport Expansion project, according to the engineers working on the project, is 95% complete. In fact, the Airport is expected to be opened within the first quarter of next year. Already some domestic airlines have begun looking for office accommodation to facilitate their operations as soon as the airport is opened early next year.”

He was hopeful that when completed, the project will go a long way to boost socio-economic activities in and around the Bono region and "we all look forward to the re-opening of the airport."

Inner-city roads, stadium

He further reminded residents of Sunyani about the vigorous construction works currently ongoing on the various inner-road projects saying; “residents can testify that construction works are ongoing and have not been abandoned as claimed.”

He stressed, “Under the Synohydro deal alone, Sunyani is benefitting from a total of about 29 kilometres of inner-city roads in addition to other roads including the much talk-about New Dormaa-Kotokrom-Yawhima road. As we can all attest to, contractors are on site and work is progressing steadily on all these road projects.”

The Bono Regional NPP Communications Director also said it is untrue that government has abandoned plans to construct a new Sports Stadium in Sunyani.

“Indeed, on paragraph 293 (Appendix 10E, item 34) of the government’s Financial Statement and Budget for 2022, Sunyani is to benefit from the construction of a brand-new FIFA Standard Sports Stadium.”

Seth Asare-Bediako said the impression that the planned rehabilitation of the Coronation Park would result in government not constructing the proposed new Sports Stadium is very unfortunate.

“The two are separate projects, one is rehabilitation and the other is the construction of a new FIFA standard stadium.”

Below is the full statement

NPP BONO REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE; SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT ON "SUNYANI DESERVES BETTER DEMONSTRATIONS".

The Bono Regional Communications Directorate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has learnt with utter dismay some unfounded allegations raised by some residents of Sunyani during their recently held demonstration which was spearheaded by the Sunyani Youth Development Association, Sunyani for Development Association and other interest groups.

Much as the party in the region commend the organisers for exercising their constitutional right in airing their grievances and also ensuring the orderly and peaceful conduct of the demonstration, the NPP would like to set the records straight on the key issues raised by the aggrieved residents.

First and Foremost, the demonstrators alleged that the Regional Library project in Sunyani has been “abandoned” but the facts are that, the Akufo-Addo led government has not abandoned this project. The said Library project was started by the Kufuor-led NPP administration but was completely abandoned throughout the eight years of the NDC after they took power in January 2009. It is however refreshing to note that construction works have resumed upon the assumption of office by President Akufo-Addo in January 2017. In fact, portions of the project have been completed with some workers currently using them while strenuous efforts are being made to complete the rest of the monumental project.

The demonstrators further alleged that, the Sunyani Technical University (STU) does not have enough lecture halls and that over 200 students are made to use a lecture hall originally meant for 40 students which is a palpable falsehood.

We want to put it on records that, following its conversion from a Polytechnic to a Technical University, a number of infrastructural developments have been undertaken on the campus. In November 2020, the then Minister of Environment, Science and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, on behalf the President inaugurated the first phase of the Science Park project at STU. Our checks at the University proves that the institution has now adequate lecture halls after the inauguration of the project.

STU is also benefitting from the construction of a new and ultra-modern workshop which is near completion. It is therefore erroneous for the impression to be created that nothing at all has been done to increase the infrastructural base of the institution because the reality on the ground does not support this propaganda.

The NPP acknowledges the concerns raised on the seeming delay of the re-opening of the Sunyani Airport, which was closed-down in 2015 by the erstwhile NDC government without making any effort to re-open the facility till they exited from office in January 2017.

On records, the Sunyani Airport, which was constructed in 1969 by Ghana’s Prime Minister of the Second Republic, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, was shut down in 2015 due to its deplorable state at the time. As acknowledged by the demonstrators, this current NPP government has since the last three to four years been undertaking massive expansion works at the Airport.

We want to inform the good people of Sunyani and indeed the entire region and our neighboring regions that the First Phase of the Sunyani Airport Expansion project, according to the engineers working on the project, is 95% complete. In fact, the Airport is expected to be opened within the first quarter of next year. Already some domestic airlines have begun looking for office accommodation to facilitate their operations as soon as the airport is opened early next year.

Hopefully, this will go a long way to boost socio-economic activities in and around the Bono region and we all look forward for the re-opening of the airport.

It also important to state that vigorous construction works on various inner-road projects in Sunyani are on-going. Residents can testify that construction works are on-going and have not been abandoned as claimed.

Under the Synohydro deal alone, Sunyani is benefitting from a total of about 29 kilometres of inner-city roads in addition to other roads including the much talk-about New Dormaa-Kotokrom-Yawhima road. As we can all attest to, contractors are on site and work is progressing steadily on all these road projects.

It must also be put on record that government has not abandoned plans to construct a new Sports Stadium in Sunyani. Indeed, on paragraph 293 (Appendix 10E, item 34) of the government’s Financial Statement and Budget for 2022, Sunyani is to benefit from the construction of a brand-new FIFA Standard Sports Stadium. The impression that the planned rehabilitation of the Coronation Park would result in government NOT constructing the proposed new Sports Stadium is very unfortunate. The two are separate projects, one is rehabilitation and the other is the construction of a new FIFA standard stadium.

The party would also want to thank government for the Secondary City project in Sunyani which has given the regional capital a face-lift. Under the project, pedestrian walk-ways and street-lights have been provided along major streets in the town, something we wish the demonstrators will commend the government for.

The recently-inaugurated Regional Command office for the Ghana National Fire Service by President Akufo-Addo is another project worth mentioning. This project has come as a big relief to the officers and staff of the GNSF in the discharge of their duties. More importantly, it will enable them to respond swiftly to fire-outbreaks in this area, among others.

These among others, couple with hundreds of infrastructural projects scattered across Sunyani are some of the projects the NPP government have undertaken in the last few years. We wish to state that the New Patriotic Party's government will continue to deliver its mandate to the people and will not be swayed by propaganda and people with parochial interest.

SIGNED: ASARE-BEDIAKO SETH

BONO REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, NPP