The Member of Parliament for Essikadu-Ketan Constituency, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu Danquah, is pushing for the area to be separated from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), citing prolonged neglect and underdevelopment as reasons.
In an interview, Dr. Danquah voiced deep frustration over the long-standing neglect of Essikado-Ketan’s contributions to the metropolis. She argued that despite being the economic and demographic hub, Essikado-Ketan is consistently overlooked in development projects.
“Essikado-Ketan has the population and economic capacity to be an independent municipality, yet it’s rendered invisible by its exclusion from the Metropolitan Assembly’s name and consistently overlooked in key development projects,” she stated.
Dr. Danquah noted that despite Essikado-Ketan’s Kojokrom Market being a major commercial hub, the economic activity is often attributed to Takoradi Market Circle, overlooking Essikado-Ketan’s contributions.
“The economic engine starts in Kojokrom, but it is Takoradi that receives all the recognition and development attention,” she lamented.
She also highlighted that the railway station, a key hub for trade from Takoradi port to Kumasi via Tarkwa and Obuasi, is located in Essikado-Ketan.
Dr. Danquah also accused the STMA of disregarding repeated requests to include Essikado-Ketan in the Assembly’s official name, despite the constituency’s substantial contribution to local revenue.
The MP stated that development projects have been largely concentrated in Sekondi and Takoradi, leaving Essikado-Ketan underdeveloped in comparison.
She believes that establishing a separate municipality for Essikado-Ketan would enable more focused development, tailored to the needs of its chiefs and residents.
Dr. Danquah’s secession call aligns with rising demands from local leaders and residents who feel Essikado-Ketan’s contributions have been long overlooked.
Author- Dorothy Donkor
