An Aspiring Assembly member for the Yaabem South Electoral Area in Agona Swedru in the Agona West Constituency of the Central Region, Hakeem Raji has called on political parties to desist from meddling in local government elections, noting that it hampers development at the local level. Speaking with Ghananews247.com on his ambition to contest for the position, he pointed out that those who are appointed by political parties to contest for the position turn to serve the interest of the party, rather than the interest of the people, and stressed that when that happens, it affect the development of the area. According to him, local government elections is supposed to be non partisan, and has therefore called on political parties to desist from meddling in it. Though not voted into office yet, Hakeem Raji disclosed that he has already provided fifteen street lights and is currently constructing a community information center as part of his contribution to his area. He is also said to have put some of the youth in the area into learning of vocational skill. Though he admitted that drug addiction is a major problem facing the country, especially among the youth, he hinted that he is using his expertise as a physical instructor to engage the youth and educate them about the physical and psychological effects of drug on the body. He revealed that through such engagement and interactions, he has come to realize that majority of the youth are into drug addiction because they feel dejected and rejected by their families and society as a whole, emphasizing that arrest and prosecuting them is not always the best solution to the problem, but rather, counselling by trained psychologist will be the best antidote to the problem. He later mentioned poor roads and sanitation as some of the major problems facing his area, and assured that when voted into power, fixing of the roads would be his number one priority. He is known to have organized and led a massive demonstration dubbed: Fixed Swedru Roads which led to the refurbishing of the major roads in the town.
By Robert Ayanful