The First Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asunafo North Constituency, Emmanuel Frimpong Boadu, has accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of undermining President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's efforts to create new districts.
Chairman Boadu asserts that the ongoing parliamentary impasse is a deliberate strategy by the NDC to impede government business, such as the creation of new districts, which are essential for enhancing local governance and development in areas like Mim.
Speaking to the media, he disclosed that significant progress had been made towards creating the Mim District out of the current Asunafo North Municipal, fulfilling years of anticipation by the chiefs and people of Mim. However, this process has been brought to a standstill due to the ongoing disruptions in parliament.
"The Mim Traditional Area has long advocated for a separate district to accelerate development in this area. After the conclusion of field verification of the proposed Mim District Map, economic viability, social infrastructure, and district capital accessibility, we thought we were finally there. It is therefore worrying that after President Akufo-Addo, through an Executive Instrument, approved the Mim District creation, the NDC is using parliament to frustrate the process," he said.
He indicated that the NDC MPs are fully aware that the Local Governance Act 2016 requires the Legislative Instrument (LI) for district creation to be laid in parliament for 21 parliamentary sitting days. However, they have decided to boycott parliamentary sittings to subtly prevent the LI from being laid.
"The Minister for Local Government is yet to lay the LI before parliament for the Mim District to be established, which requires 21 parliamentary sittings. This has become difficult with parliament suspended sine die," he added.
He accused the NDC MPs of pursuing a hidden agenda against the new districts being created by the president, exposing the insensitivity of the NDC party and their parliamentary candidate for Asunafo North towards the progress of Mim.
Chairman Boadu appealed to the people of Mim and its surrounding communities to reject the NDC and its parliamentary candidate in the December polls.