Bishop Abraham Aidoo, indepedent parliamentary candidate for Kpone Katamanso Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has outlined an empowerment agenda focused on equipping residents with practical skills to become economically self-reliant.
As part of the initiative, Mr Aidoo says close to 2,000 people across the constituency are expected to benefit from free skills training, aimed at equipping men and women with practical skills that can support self-employment and entrepreneurship.
According to him, the programme is driven by the belief that while citizens must continue to demand development from government, individuals must also take steps to acquire skills, work hard and create opportunities for themselves.
“We cannot wait for government before we start building our lives,” he said.
The training initiative has so far reached communities including Apollonia and its surrounding areas, Oyibi, Zeenu and parts of Lebanon.
Residents from other communities, including Gbetsile and Diamond City, have also travelled to participate in the programme, reflecting what Mr Aidoo described as a strong desire among residents to acquire skills and become economically independent.
He stressed that participation in the training is completely free, saying the initiative is intended to give residents access to knowledge and practical skills without financial barriers.
Mr Aidoo said his approach to development is based on the principle that empowering individuals ultimately strengthens families and communities.
“Develop the individual, and you strengthen the family.
Strengthen the family, and you strengthen the community.
Strengthen the community, and you build a stronger constituency,” he stated.
He said the skills training should complement, rather than replace, the responsibility of government to provide essential infrastructure and public services.
He therefore called for continued advocacy for improved roads, water supply, healthcare, education, electricity, sanitation and other infrastructure across Kpone Katamanso.
At the same time, he said residents, particularly young people and women, must be empowered through education, skills development and entrepreneurship to participate actively in the development of the constituency.
Mr Aidoo also called for a shift away from what he described as politics centred on insults, attacks and personal destruction, advocating instead for a politics of ideas and development.
He said discussions on the future of Kpone Katamanso should focus on education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare, roads, water, sanitation and community infrastructure.
His vision, he explained, is to help build a constituency where young people have opportunities, women can establish sustainable businesses, and residents possess the skills and confidence to create livelihoods for themselves.
“Don’t just give a person something today.
Give that person the knowledge and skills to create opportunities tomorrow,” he said.
Mr Aidoo maintained that providing people with skills gives them confidence and expands their economic possibilities, while enabling them to contribute directly to the development of their communities.
He described the initiative as “development from the individual upward”, stressing that government must continue to fulfil its responsibilities while citizens are empowered to participate in building their communities.
He said the free skills training programme forms a central part of his broader vision for Kpone Katamanso: “Develop the individual, empower the community, and build Kpone Katamanso together.”
