Hospitality HND II students of the Hospitality department of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) honored the Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben, Michael Okyere Baafi, for his crucial interventions in the constituency on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

The first-term MP was recognized for his outstanding performance within his first three and a half years in office, spanning road construction, health facilities, security, and general infrastructure.

The outgoing class known as the Pinnacle Collective, made up of fourteen students, settled on celebrating the lawmaker at a ceremony on the university’s campus, which saw several dignitaries and NPP party faithful in attendance.

A citation presented to Mr. Arthur on behalf of Mr. Michael Okyere Baafi acknowledged the legislator’s outstanding dedication and exemplary service to the constituency.

“Your tireless efforts, visionary leadership, and commitment to progress have significantly impacted the lives of many,” parts of the citation read.

The head of department at the hospitality department of Koforidua Technical University, Dr. Joseph Ahima, commended the students for the initiative.

According to him, the event, known as a functional organization, offered the students the appropriate platform to enhance and perfect their event-organizing skills as they completed their course in due time.

He justified the decision to honour Mr. Baafi owing to the evidence of his achievements.

He asserted, “Looking at what the MCE said and what we’re witnessing on the ground, I think it’s a laudable idea if they celebrate him.”

He congratulated the lawmaker and students for the feat achieved.

Group leader of Pinnacle Collectives, Gifty Ashiamor, explained the concept of the event and said it formed part of the students’ practical lessons towards event planning and production as part of their course.

The choice of the MP to celebrate, she furthered, was premised on his sterling performance and developmental projects over the past three and a half years as the first-term legislator for the new Juaben Constituency.

Campaign Manager for Michael Okyere Baafi, John Houghton-Arthur, who received the citation on behalf of the legislator, said the recognition of the efforts of the MP by the students was in the right direction owing to his immense contributions to the development of his constituency.

Underscoring the need to celebrate individuals while alive and not posthumously, Mr. Arthur noted: “If you look at the honourable Member of Parliament, he has just been MP for three and a half years, and you can count the number of projects that he’s been able to provide the community; it’s so huge.”

According to the campaign manager, Mr. Baafi’s achievements in a relatively shorter period surpass those of his predecessors.

He urged the students to leverage the skills and knowledge acquired during the course as a viable employment source to earn a living for themselves.

The campaign manager called on the electorate to see the various developmental projects undertaken by the MP and NPP governments and make an informed choice during the December general elections.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for New Juaben South, Isaac Apaw-Gyasi, who was a guest on the day, extolled the lawmaker’s efforts at bringing development to the people.

He outlined the various projects undertaken by the lawmaker, including an unprecedented 42 km of asphalting of road networks within the Koforidua municipality, amongst others, security, astroturfs, placement of young people into security services and institutions, and health facilities, amongst others.

“The leadership of Michael Okyere Baafi stands out. In less than four years, if we’re to count the developmental projects that he has brought into this municipality, it’ll blow our minds. I can confidently say that Michael Okyere Baafi has contributed so much to this constituency,” he said.

He attributed the “many transformative projects” the municipality was enjoying to the working telepathy between him and the MP and called for further support for the MP to ensure that he brings more development to New Juaben South.