Hundreds of residents from Tsiame and surrounding communities in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region thronged the streets on Saturday, April 19, to welcome the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to his ancestral hometown.
The visit formed part of a homecoming initiative aimed at empowering women in business. The large turnout and the palpable excitement among the people reflected the high esteem in which Afenyo-Markin is held by the Tsiame community.
Addressing the crowd, Afenyo-Markin described the warm reception as humbling and significant, emphasising the importance of community engagement in national development.
“My visit to Tsiame is significant not only for the community but also for the country. It highlights the importance of community engagement and the role that prominent individuals can play in promoting development and progress,” he said.
He explained that his homecoming was also intended to support and inspire women and young ladies in the area, contributing to improved living standards through acts of benevolence.
As part of his support package, the MP donated over 30 hairdryers, sewing machines, and other vocational tools to residents. He clarified that the gesture was purely out of goodwill and not politically motivated.
“My donations of hairdryers, sewing machines, and others are from my free heart. I am not in any way preparing myself to be an independent candidate or whatsoever for Keta Constituency, it will never happen. I just deem it fit to extend a helping hand to my own people in my own town,” he stated.
Also present at the event was the Member of Parliament for Keta, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, who commended Afenyo-Markin for his kind gesture. He noted that the support would boost ongoing apprenticeship programmes in the area.
Gakpe encouraged other MPS to emulate the Minority Leader’s example in their respective constituencies and urged beneficiaries to use the items for their intended purposes to achieve economic empowerment.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Bernard Suka, former Assembly Member for Tsiame and Deputy Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Keta Constituency, lauded Afenyo-Markin’s contributions.
He noted that the MP’s dedication to public service and his positive impact on the community had not gone unnoticed and had earned him admiration across the Volta Region and beyond.
“The people of Tsiame are proud of Afenyo-Markin’s accomplishments. The warm welcome he received reflects the community’s deep appreciation for his hard work and commitment to making a difference,” Suka said.
He added that Afenyo-Markin has become a role model to many young people in the area, inspiring them to work hard and pursue their dreams.
Some beneficiaries of the donation expressed their excitement and gratitude, pledging to put the items to good use in order to improve their livelihoods.
