A comedy of errors has blown the stack of many in the Mpohor constituency leading to condemnation of daylight propaganda and deceptive manoeuvrings in the area.
In its wake, two pork-barrel theories have emerged to define this latest developmental scam. First, is how the people are underestimated based on the perception that they do not have the ability to detect deception. The second showcases how swift non-communicative forces can be mobilized to complete a facework after failed attempts to highlight falsehood through an imaginary road project. In both examples, the fake is a recurring theme that induces a harbinger of ridicule.
Residents, including many members of the NPP, have not hidden their anger at such an embarrassment to the government and party, accusing the Member of Parliament of Mpohor, Hon. Alex Kofi Agyekum, for initiating this process of a deceptive value. It was just a stratagem, and the DCE for Mpohor is an accomplice.
It would be recalled that in 2018, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for work to begin on a 16-kilometre Apowa-Mpohor-Adum Banso road. This road still remains bad as it was before the sod-cutting ceremony, and residents are upset due to lack of information flow and lobbying, blaming the Mpohor Mp for insulting their intelligence anytime they demand truthful answers about the delay.
Critics say other MPs are doing well in the area of lobbying to bring development closer to their people, but the same cannot be said of Mpohor constituency, even an astroturf project promised by the Mp still remains a dream waiting to become a reality.
Cyril Kwesi Ankomah, a resident of Adum-Dominase, questioned why "a signboard with the inscription Apowa-Mpohor-Benso road. Construction coming soon" was mounted along this stretch of road, only for it to be quickly removed overnight following a public backlash.
The Mp for Mpohor, who is facing stiff competition in Npp's upcoming parliamentary primaries for the first time, having spent 8 years in parliament, is said to be experiencing a difficult campaign as his support base dwindles. This, and other failed promises will explain why a signpost was hurriedly placed in the district to deceive the people, and later removed without any explanation.
Cyril Ankomah said he believes an impending parliamentary competition is producing interesting outcomes, and it was part of the reason why an Mp will activate deceptive machinery that had backfired. We are waiting for the next line of action - distribution of flat screen television sets, and gas cylinders by the Mp, Ankomah revealed.
"Who puts out a signpost announcing that a road construction is coming soon, what do they take us for", residents asked, and lambasted some NPP executives and local government officials for this shameful pillory.
Residents say the road construction signpost had since vamoosed into thin air just after 24 hours, confirming how the incumbent Mp for Mpohor had wanted to shortchange in order to improve his chances in NPP's parliamentary primaries slated for 25 April, all things being equal.
"So in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic, people can still be that ruthless and heartless, this is not good politics", the residents bemoaned.
Nana Abena Nkrumah, a 75-year-old farmer in Mpohor, said "good beads do not talk ", and that if the Mpohor Mp had done enough for the people, and respected traditional leaders in the area, such a cheap propaganda strategy would not have been necessary.
People from diverse backgrounds in the constituency also condemned this dastardly act, calling on the electorates to wise up.
"This is voodoo politics", an angry resident shouted.