"Dumsor is Crippling my People Businesses"- Amenfi Central MP Blasts Govt

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Amenfi Central, Honourable Joana Gyan Cudjoe, has sounded a loud alarm over what she describes as the localized return of “Dumsor,” which is currently crippling the economic life of her constituency.

Speaking in an exclusive telephone interview with ExpressNewsGhsna, the lawmaker painted a grim picture of a district plunged into darkness for weeks, leaving small businesses at a standstill and residents in a state of despair.

Hon. Joana Cudjoe expressed deep-seated frustration that despite the constituency’s unwavering loyalty to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), the area remains trapped in a cycle of systemic neglect and infrastructure decay.

The energy crisis has become the focal point of a broader developmental meltdown in the Western Region district.

According to the MP, the persistent power outages have not only halted industrial and commercial activities but have also compromised local security.

She highlighted the painful irony that while the President, the MP, and the District Chief Executive all belong to the same political party, the residents of Amenfi Central are yet to enjoy the basic dividends of their political support.

“I can boldly say this: Amenfi Central is one of the most struggling constituencies in Ghana,” she lamented, noting that the lack of reliable electricity, a stable telecommunications network, and accessible roads has turned the district into a shadow of its potential.

Amenfi Central is a vital economic hub, serving as a cornerstone of Ghana’s cocoa production and oil palm cultivation.

Bounded by the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality to the north and the Wassa Amenfi and Prestea-Huni Valley districts to the south and west, the area is home to approximately 115,103 people according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

Despite its role as a major contributor to the national treasury through cocoa and small-scale mining, the district suffers from a severe lack of social amenities, including having only one Senior High School to serve its entire growing population.

In response to the central government’s perceived inertia, Hon. Joana Cudjoe has spent her first year in office utilizing personal resources and her Joana Gyan Foundation to fill the gap.

Her interventions over the past twelve months have included the distribution of critical medical equipment to clinics, the provision of scholarships for tertiary students, and the rehabilitation of several boreholes to ensure communities have access to clean water.

She has also personally donated streetlights to illuminate dark corridors in an effort to combat the rising insecurity caused by the power crisis.

However, she maintains that these individual efforts cannot replace the state’s responsibility.

She therefore made a stern call for the government to move beyond rhetoric and provide the large-scale investment needed to save Amenfi Central from further decline.