The Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan Constituency in the Western Region, Dr. Grace Ayensu Danquah, is advocating for the constituency to break away from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), citing years of neglect and lack of development.

Speaking on the Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, May 15, 2025, Dr. Danquah expressed deep frustration over what she described as a long-standing disregard for Essikado-Ketan’s contributions to the metropolis.

She argued that despite being the economic and demographic heartbeat of the area, the constituency continues to be sidelined in development initiatives.

"Essikado-Ketan has the population and the economic base to stand on its own as a municipality.

Yet, it remains invisible in the very name of the Metropolitan Assembly and is consistently left out of major developmental projects," she said.

Dr. Danquah pointed out that even though Essikado-Ketan hosts the bustling Kojokrom Market — a key commercial hub — economic activity in the metropolis is always credited to the Takoradi Market Circle.

"The economic engine starts in Kojokrom, but it is Takoradi that receives all the recognition and development attention," she lamented.

She added that the railway station, which is the hub of trans trade from the Takoradi port through to Tarkwa to Obuasi to Kumasi, is situated in Essikado-Ketan.

She also criticised the STMA for ignoring repeated calls to include Essikado-Ketan in the official administrative name of the Assembly, despite the constituency’s significant contribution to local revenue.

According to the MP, the focus of development projects has been disproportionately centred on Sekondi and Takoradi, leaving Essikado-Ketan lagging behind.

She believes that creating a separate municipality for the constituency would allow for more targeted development to meet the needs of the chiefs and residents.

Dr. Danquah’s call for secession comes amid growing demands from local leaders and residents who feel the constituency’s contributions have gone unrecognised for far too long.