Obiri Boahen Urges Government to Prioritize Rural Development, Empower District Assemblies
Former NPP Deputy General Secretary says the party’s founding ideology holds the blueprint for inclusive national development
- Government should not focus only on cities while neglecting villages
- Decentralization must be real, with Assemblies equipped to fix roads using DRIP machines
- Without action, the poor will remain marginalized and underdeveloped
Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has made a passionate call for the government to prioritize rural development as a cornerstone for national progress.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, June 21, 2025, Lawyer Obiri Boahen emphasized that Ghana’s growth is deeply rooted in the values and vision of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition — the ideological foundation of the NPP.
According to him, this tradition remains the surest path to achieving meaningful and inclusive development.
“The Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition can only make Ghana progress,” he asserted.
He decried the growing neglect of rural communities, especially in the area of road infrastructure, and urged government to shift its focus beyond urban areas.
“You can’t pay attention to city roads and shun the villages,” he said, adding that rural residents deserve equal attention and investment.
Citing regional comparisons, Lawyer Obiri Boahen pointed out that neighboring countries like Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso are paying greater attention to rural development than Ghana. According to him, this contrast should challenge Ghanaian leaders to prioritize and invest more in village infrastructure and services.
“Sometimes if you hear Togo, Côte d’Ivoire issues and Burkina, you feel sad as a Ghanaian,” he stated, expressing concern over Ghana’s relative neglect of its rural areas.
A key part of his message was a call for the full empowerment of District Assemblies to take charge of local development. He advocated for the effective use of the DRIP (District Road Improvement Project) machines, which he acknowledged were presented to Assemblies by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.
“District Assemblies should be empowered to fix the poor road networks with the help of the DRIP machine. Decentralization should not be lip service — there is no reality,” he emphasized.
Lawyer Obiri Boahen warned that without real commitment to decentralization and rural support, poverty will persist. “The poor will continue to be hewers of wood and drawers of water,” he said poetically, stressing the need for a shift in policy focus.
He concluded with a heartfelt appeal: “We need to help those in villages.”
His remarks are a wake-up call for policymakers and development stakeholders to bridge the urban-rural divide and ensure that the fruits of national development are felt by all Ghanaians, regardless of location.
