A cross-section of citizens in Winneba in the Central region have calling themselves the “Concerned Citizens of Effutu Constituency,” have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to re-instate the former Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, Mr. Mike Allan Hammah, to boost the development of the area.

According to the citizens made up of chiefs, opinion leaders, Asafo groups, the clergy as well as the youth, the absence of the former MP has created a vacuum resulting in the area retrogressing in development.

At a press conference organised by the group on Tuesday, the spokesperson of the group, Mr. Henry Arnold Bonney, who is a retired educationist, explained that the sole purpose of the group was to champion the socio-political development of Effutu constituency.

He added that a press conference which was on the theme; ‘the return of Hon. Mike Allan Hammah’ was to bring to the fore the deprivation of the constituency since he lost the seat in the 2012 General Elections.

Mr. Bonney pointed out that the former MP contributed a lot to infrastructural development of the constituency when he was a minister of state at the various portfolios assigned to him.

He mentioned the rehabilitation of the Winneba Water Works, construction of feeder roads to Warababa, construction of trauma and specialist hospital at Winneba among others as some of the achievements of the former MP.

“Indeed Effutu witnessed monumental development during the tenure of Hon. Hammah as an MP and a Minister of State. There was also a proper link between the people in the constituency on one hand and the central government on the other hand,” he stated.

The spokesperson recounted that the incumbent MP, Lawyer Alex Afenyo Markin, has deserted them since they voted for him, adding that “all that he has been up to since he went to Parliament is to litigate in court.”

He said development in the area has come to a standstill since the incumbent MP won the elections hence the need for President Mahama to consider, as a matter of importance, to appoint Mike Hammah as a Minister of State so as to bridge the gap created as a result of his exit.

He also appealed to the former MP to consider contesting the constituency primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) when nominations open, adding “our constituency will rise up to the challenge with Mike Hammah becomes our political leader.”