Mr Ransford Antwi, an Independent Parliamentary Candidate in the Election 2024 in the Sunyani East constituency, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to be intentional about the progressive development of Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital.
He expressed his disapproval with the relocation of the proposed construction of a new airport from Sunyani to Nsoatre, as promised by the President in the 2026 State of the Nations Address.
He argued that Sunyani, the regional capital, had enough land space to cater for all intended projects like an airport, stadium, and standard market under the 24-hour market initiative of the government.
Mr Antwi reminded President Mahama that: “In your recent State of the Nation’s address, we heard you loud and clear about your intention to have a new airport constructed in Sunyani, the Bono Regional Capital.
“You didn’t say Bono or Nsoatre Airport, and Mr President please you were unequivocal about the location of the new airport,” he said in a statement issued by his office in connection with the just ended two-day visit of President Mahama to the Bono Region.
“As has always been the case, instead of reaching out to the Sunyani stool to find out if they have any land available for the project, the Regional Minister hurriedly held an emergency meeting with the leadership of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs to decide on Nsoatre.
This is just because there’s a one-thousand-acre land available,” he alleged in a copy of the statement made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
“Sunyani has become an orphan among regional capitals. It is the only regional capital where the President can choose to visit countless times without going to the palace, as custom demands,” he said.
“It is the only Regional Capital where appointments to positions are made without recourse to Nananom and the role of indigenes. Invisible forces have conspired to work against a beautiful city with massive potential,” he stated.
Mr Antwi recollected that: “A former minister of state, Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu once boldly remarked that he managed to snatch a project-Sports Resource Center intended to be constructed in Sunyani, to Dormaa-Ahenkro because he managed to convince the then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo to change his mind.”
“I wish to state emphatically and say on authority that Sunyani has 1,250 land available for the airport project and an additional 26 acres for a stadium, among others and Nananom are ready to engage,” he stated.
He said that: “In fact I have no agenda against any political party as some would have you believe but only mean well for all and sundry.”
Mr Antwi, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Suncity Group of Companies, pleaded with the President to be intentional about the development of Sunyani, as that would enable area to have its fair share of the national cake.
GNA
