Avoka Blamed Over Infrastructure Woe Of Zebila Shs/Technical

The parliamentary candidate for the biggest opposition New Patriotic Party, NPP in the Zebila Constituency, Frank Fuseini Adongo, has said the Member of Parliament, MP for the Zebila Constituency, Cletus Apul Avoka is to  blame squarely for the infrastructure setback facing the Zebila Senior High/Technical School.

He alleges the MP has not placed importance on the educational sector, thus the enormous infrastructure deficiencies confronting most basic and second cycle institutions in the Bawku West District.

Mr. Adongo made this criticism in an exclusive interaction with Peace news regarding the dire infrastructure bottlenecks affecting students in the Zebila SHS/Technical in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.

Some schoolboys resort to sleep in washrooms following limited accommodation.

Mr. Adongo, however, subjected the MP and former interior minister, Mr. Avoka, to intense slam for the phenomenon, saying the MP could have intervened to salvage the infrastructure issue confronting the school if he had prioritised education.

He said Mr. Avoka was oblivious of the fact that education could break the shackles of poverty among the youth in the district and asked the constituents to vote him out in the 2016 general elections and give him(Mr. Adongo) the nod to correct the educational ills confronting the district.

He stressed Mr. Avoka's silence on the school's infrastructure problem was blameworthy, explaining the MP had taken the constituency and district for granted because the constituents remained loyal to him and the National Democratic Congress, NDC in the presidential and parliamentary polls.

"I can't say the MP(Cletus Apul Avoka) has not done anything. He did something, at least he helped some of the  youth to get jobs. He has overstayed in parliament and I think he should have done better than he is doing", Mr. Adongo said.

He added it was very embarrassing and disgraceful to seeing and hearing the one of two  government SHS/ Technical in the district was lacking infrastructure, and promised to make the school a world-class one if he was given the mandate in the December 7 polls.

The senior nurse and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Faith Clinic, indicated education, health, agriculture and youth empowerment were his topmost priorities if given the nod.

When contacted for his reaction to the claims made by the NPP parliamentary candidate, incumbent MP Avoka, described Mr. Adongo's comments as 'jokes and comedies', stressing it took people with selective and myopic minds to see nothing about what he did for the Zebila Constituency and the Bawku West District at large in all areas of national life.

"Is Fuseini aware that if I were not doing well, I wouldn't be voted into power by the constituents since 1992?", he questioned.

Mr. Avoka, who is also a legal luminary, added he had been winning because of his track record in the district and said the legislator was not to blame single-handedly for the development woes of his or her constituency and district.

"I'm sure the NPP man doesn't even know the prime role of the Ghanaian legislator. The MP is in parliament to make laws and perhaps help his District or Municipal Chief Executive to lobby for development for the district or municipality. So, why should he take me on for a small issue like this", he queried.

Mr. Avoka, who has been described by many as 'political powerhouse', said nothing could thwart him and president John Dramani Mahama from emerging a decisive victory in the constituency in the December 7 race by virtue of the party's track record in all sectors of the economy in the district.

Meanwhile, Mr. Adongo who contested the Zebila seat in 2012 polls finished well behind Mr. Avoka as he polled 17,082 votes, representing 41.56 percent, while the former Majority Leader and Minister for Government Business, garnered 21,900 votes, representing 53.28 percent to emerge victory.