In a recent interview, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, the outgoing Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi, pointed to financial constraints as a major factor affecting infrastructure development in his constituency. Mercer, who lost his parliamentary seat in the 2024 elections, admitted that several key projects were delayed or left incomplete due to limited government funds, which were mainly restricted by the country's growing debt problems. He explained that the government could not borrow funds easily due to the debt burden, making it impossible to implement projects that were meant to improve the region's infrastructure.
Mercer particularly highlighted the deteriorating condition of the Sekondi Market, a long-awaited project that was included in the government's Medium-Term Framework (2022-2024), but which has been stalled due to lack of funding. While residents and market stakeholders had high hopes for the renovation, Mercer admitted that despite the official planning, the project remained unimplemented due to the government's inability to raise enough money. Additionally, two other significant projects—the PTC Interchange and the Market Circle redevelopment—were also affected by the financial difficulties, further frustrating local residents. These projects were meant to ease traffic congestion and revitalize the area, but their completion has been delayed indefinitely.
Despite these setbacks, Mercer pointed to some ongoing developments in the region, including the redevelopment of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital and the construction of a new teaching hospital. He acknowledged that several roads and other infrastructure projects had been completed, but he conceded that the scale of these developments was not enough to address voter frustrations. He noted that while some initiatives were progressing, they were insufficient to overcome the negative impact of the delayed major projects. Mercer also noted that the government's efforts were further hindered by the ongoing debt restructuring process, which has further limited access to necessary funds for large-scale projects.
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