We’re retaining Ursula for 2024 – Ablekuma West NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Delegates in the Ablekuma West constituency have touted the many achievements of their Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, for which they are confident of retaining her as MP for another four year-term.

The Delegates who spoke to this paper made commanding assertion about Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful’s unique role in the area as MP.

According to them, her deep-rooted commitment to the community and her work is unparalleled and irreplaceable and for that matter, nobody in their view can do what Ursula has done, and continue to do in the constituency.

“We can say that when it comes to Ablekuma West, Ursula has emerged as a singular force, her conviction in her work reflecting her unwavering dedication to the constituency. She has proven to be a leader who believes in the profound impact of her efforts, underscoring her self-confidence and as a rallying cry to us, her constituents to give her another term,” an opinion leader and a delegate said.

They touted her achievements, key among them they indicated is the construction of Ablekuma West roads.

They indicated that, through the hard work of the MP, the constituency can boast of an Asphalt overlay from sharp curve, SSNIT flat, Tunga; all under the Western Link Road project.

The Western Link Road is an alternative route to the main Dansoman Highway, which goes through the St Bernadette School area all the way to Dansoman Last Stop.

The project was part of the many road works which was initiated by Ursula in the Ablekuma West Constituency in 2018.

Over 45 kilometres of asphalt roads have been constructed in the constituency linking the major routes in the Dansoman estates and the Shiabu beach area; these delegates considered another strategic addition to the road works executed in the constituency over the last four years.

Support for Schools

Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has donated several dual desks to basic schools in the Ablekuma West Municipality; one pupil entitled to one dual desk.

This was a response to calls amid the lack of enough desks in the basic schools located in the municipality.

She has constructed 80 classroom blocks at Tabora, 6 units classroom blocks at St Augustine, 6 units classrooms at Akwebu, 9 units classrooms at Magarette Mary, and a robotic center.

The MP has also done well for the public schools where she ensured that all public schools in Ablekuma West have laboratories.

She has also supported in paying for MOCK Examination for students in the constituency, provided educational infrastructure among others.

She has also provided strategic guidelines to see more girls’ participation in STEM.

These guidelines are improving the participation of young ladies and working women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) especially girls and young women who have a hard time picturing themselves in STEM roles.

Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has also done a lot in closing the gender gap in many industries, including the telecommunication sector, through the gradual progress in female education in STEM-related fields.

“She has also empowered women in the Ablekuma West constituency through her Beauty Cosmetology Program which she introduced for the women to make Ablekuma West a Model Constituency. Over 50 women availed themselves to be trained in cosmetology as part of a bespoke programme to empower women in the Ablekuma West constituency.  She has also supported the beneficiaries with starter pack containing; two mannequins, needles, 10 bottles of shampoo, 10 bottles of conditioner, two bottles of hair glue, two bottles of spritz, two bottles of hair oil, one bundle of sewing thread, 20 pieces of extensions among others” another delegate added.

Another area where delegates are more concerned with is her support to women.

According to them, apart from the Beauty and Cosmetology, about 250 women in the constituency have benefitted from a livelihood empowerment programme initiated by the MP where these women received interest-free loans, among others.

About Ursula Owusu

In 2012, Ursula Owusu was elected to be the Member of Parliament for the new constituency Ablekuma West Constituency as their first Member of Parliament.

In 2015, she contested and won the NPP parliamentary primaries in the Ablekuma West Constituency.

She retained her parliamentary seat during the 2016 general elections, by winning with 34,376 votes out of the 60,558 valid votes cast making 56.96%.

In 2017, she was appointed as the Minister to head the Ministry for Communications by President Akufo-Addo. She is currently the Minister for Communications and Digitalization.

 

In December 2020, she contested for re-election as member of parliament in the 2020 general election as the parliamentary candidate for the NPP and won again.

Before her current position as the Minister of Communication, she served on different boards and in different capacities in her professional career.

Honours and awards

On Saturday, 29 September 2018, she was installed as the Nkosuohemaa (Development Queen) by the traditional leaders and the people of Akyem Asuom in the Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. The ceremony took place at the Palace of Asuomhene Osabarima Ofosuhene Apenteng II.

In February 2019 she was honoured by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in recognition of her work in the protection of the rights of women and children at the 2019 FIDA Africa Regional Congress held in Abuja, Nigeria.

She was also awarded the ‘CRANS MONTANA FORUM’ S GOLD MEDAL, in Geneva, Switzerland.