Monica Bakiva, an NDC aspirant for Upper East Regional Deputy Women Organizer, has outlined her political journey, defended the current government’s economic measures, and blamed internal divisions particularly the activities of BONABOTO for the region’s developmental lag, while speaking on the Bluewaves Breakfast Show.
Bakiva said she has been active in politics since her college days in 2006, serving as a treasurer before leaving college in 2009. After six years of teaching, she returned to the University of Education, Winneba, where she held successive roles as financial secretary for two terms, treasurer, and woman commissioner. “I love taking leadership positions, not because I want position for its own sake, but because I love to serve others,” she stated.
Since 2018 she has worked with the Regional Election Directorate, helping organise branch, constituency and regional elections. In 2019 she joined the party’s communication team after noticing the absence of a regular female mainstream communicator in the region. “I decided to step in for my party, to contribute the voice of women on air, and to motivate my younger sisters and older sisters who would love to be communicators,” she said. She contested the same women’s wing position in 2022 and lost by a single vote, but is returning for another bid. She deliberately chose the Women’s Wing to serve older members: “As young as I am, if I am among them, I will do most of the work… I did not go there to be served. I went there to serve the Women’s Wing and help it become vibrant and active.”
On the economy, Bakiva argued that the current government has cushioned Ghanaians effectively, particularly on fuel prices, preventing fare increases despite rising costs. She contrasted this with the previous administration, which she said blamed the Russia-Ukraine war while crude oil prices were lower than domestic fuel costs, and which she accused of wasteful spending. She cited the National Cathedral which collapsed and led to demolitions of buildings including government properties, the unfulfilled Sky Train project, and Keta Port where only a signpost existed while staff and an MD drew salaries as examples of mismanagement. “If we are incurring debt and at least life is getting better for the people, that is better than borrowing left and right and wasting the money,” she said. “We are not wasting taxpayers’ money.”
She also defended a fuel levy introduced to stabilise power supply, noting that lower fuel prices at the time softened its impact and that diesel cushioning later benefited the broader economy through lower service and market prices.
Turning to the Upper East Region, Bakiva acknowledged that the region’s MPs are performing well in their constituencies but urged them to collaborate on major regional projects. She placed partial blame for the region’s slow progress on BONABOTO, accusing the group of favouritism, tribalism and interference in project siting that leads to internal fights. “Upper East should be seen as one people with a common destiny. If we unite, we will forge ahead,” she said.
She compared Upper East unfavourably with Upper West, noting that the two once formed a single Upper Region but that Upper West has advanced further because its people present a united front. Upper East’s multiple language groups and internal disputes within BONABOTO, she argued, have hindered major projects. She pointed to confusion over the siting of a proposed regional hospital under President John Dramani Mahama first administration eventually lead to no resolution with land and lead to the upgrade of the municipal hospital to the existing facility and earlier divisions over an airport location.
Bakiva also linked Bawku’s past growth to relative peace and observed that Navrongo, though not the regional capital, hosts numerous institutions. She called on BONABOTO to promote unity rather than division and stressed that politicians, not pressure groups, are accountable to voters.
“I, Monica Bakiva, am offering myself to serve as NDC Regional Deputy Women Organizer for the Upper East Region. I will be a voice for women, a servant of the party, and an advocate for unity and development in our region,” she declared.
By Gayheart Abraham
Source: Mybluewavesonline.com/Maurice Duncan/Bolgatanga
