Presidential and parliamentary aspirants of the various political parties have filed nominations with the Electoral Commission, paving the way for the crucial political contest in Election 2012.
The parties are seriously engaged in electioneering that is characterised by promises, which has been the practice since the inception of multi-party democracy in Ghana.
Ghanaians consider electoral promises by presidential candidates as normal no matter how sceptical they might view them. It is customary for pledges made by prospective parliamentarians to raise eye brows.
Some people hold the view that because parliamentarians do not control the national purse to be able to implement development projects, their promises to improve the standards of living of the people are just political gimmicks to win votes. After all, their basic responsibility is to enact laws for the running of the country, and to support the executive arm of government to administer the nation.
But in practical terms, Ghanaian Members of Parliament (MPs) after elections become overburdened with demands from their supporters and sympathisers, following assurances they made at political rallies. This is to the extent that some MPs pay school fees, water and electricity bills and fund social functions, including funerals, of relatives and well wishers.
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, a Deputy Minister of Energy, and National Democratic Party (NDC) MP for Ellembele, has dismissed the notion that legislators should not make promises and execute development projects as well.
He said society is dynamic, and the duty of the modern MP should be diverse, and not limited to law- making and other efforts to deepen governance.
"Today's parliamentarian should be ingenious, establish links, promote peace and unity, and pool human and natural resources for the development of his or her constituency, to raise the people's standard of living," Mr Buah told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
The 46-year-old MP, who is contesting for the Ellembele seat on the ticket of the NDC on December 7, said he had worked tirelessly to bring progress to his people, and pledged to do more if retained in Parliament, through effective leadership and representation.
Mr Buah, a law graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and graduate of Master of Science in Management from Maryland University, USA, said that education is key to national development, and would, therefore, do his best to improve that sector in his constituency.
The Deputy Minister said he would adopt a "Leave no Child Behind" approach for every child in Ellembele to get access to basic and secondary education, collaborate with the district assembly, private sector, national and international groups, to raise funds to upgrade and build educational facilities such as classroom blocks, and promote the learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Mr Buah said he would initiate measures to motivate teachers to accept transfers to his constituency and remain at post, and give financial support to needy and poor school children, to enable them to complete their education.
On healthcare and sanitation, the MP said he would work with the assemblies and stakeholders to reduce child mortality, spread of HIV and AIDS, provide waste dumping sites, drainage systems, potable water, and make sure that access to health care becomes a right and not a privilege.
Stressing that "a healthy person is a healthy society", the MP expressed commitment to promote preventive health care, provide elderly care services, and create Ellembele Ambulance Service and a mobile clinic.
Mr Buah noted that "the devil finds work for the idle hand" hence the need for him to liaise with government institutions, national and international organisations, mainly non-governmental organisations, private persons, traditional rulers and the district assembly to create the necessary conditions for investments to create jobs for the youth in the area.
Also of priority is the development of the rich cultural heritage of the people such as Nkroful, the birthplace of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President, making the beaches clean, preserving historic castles and other tourist attraction sites to promote tourism.
Under the sleeves of the Ellembele MP is the establishment of the Ellemble Tourism Planning Committee, visitor's bureau or offices in all the major towns in the constituency, Ellembele Chamber of Commerce and the Ellembele Beautification project.
The MP's attention was drawn to the fact that his plans for the constituency were grandiose, ambitious and seemed to give meaning to the African proverb, "If nakedness promises you clothing, ask of its name".
Mr Buah reacted with another indigenous proverb: "If a blind person says he would throw a stone at you, be careful because he might be stepping on one", meaning he has what it takes to deliver his promises.
The MP said he had provided computers to some basic and senior high schools (SHSs), connected Internet to Nkroful Agriculture SHS, and supported the construction of new ICT centres at Atuabo, Asasetre, ICT training for teachers and students to enhance ICT education in Ellembele District.
Mr Buah negotiated for a fixed quota for qualified Nzema students to enter nurses and teacher training colleges and took care of the cost of their training.
The MP arranged for free mock examination for all public and private candidates of the Basic Education Certificate Examination, registration of remedial students for the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination, and secured scholarships for undergraduate and post-graduate students.
Mr Buah supported the construction of classrooms blocks and teachers' quarters in some communities, lobbied to ensure that Kikam Technical Institute was selected as one of only three institutions in Ghana with the capacity to train students in the oil and gas industry.
The MP provided street lights and ensured the construction of new electricity transmission lines to Ellembele and Jomoro districts, as well as the installation of three-phase transformers in some institutions and towns in Ellembele.
Mr Buah ensured the connection of most communities in Ellembele to the national electricity grid and distributed street lamps to the people, the installation of solar energy panels, mobile phone charging and lighting systems in some communities in the northern part of the constituency.
Through the efforts of Mr Buah, some people in the constituency, especially the youth, have received employment through social openings such as Zoomlion, Zoil, Mosquito Spraying Programme and the establishment of small and medium enterprises.
The tarring of Esiama town roads, reshaping of Aiyinase-Nyamebekyere road and a 42- km- road network to link the northern part of the district to the south were made possible through the initiatives of the parliamentarian.
Mr Buah had established Ellembele Mobile Clinic and Community-based Health Planning and Services centres to increase health-care accessibility, initiated Ellembele Health Fund and rehabilitated and refurnished health facilities at Aiyinase.
He had also registered orphans and the aged under the National Health Insurance Scheme, donated medical equipment to Nzema District Hospital, as well as wheel-chairs and crutches to persons with disabilities in the area.
The provision of pipe-borne water and boreholes, KVIP and water closet toilets in communities in Elembele, including Teleku Bokazo, Aiyinase, Esiama, Bakanta, and Teleku-Bokazo were the brainchild of Mr Buah, as well as the building and rehabilitation of community sheds at Bomoakpole, Anwia and Azuleluanu.
Definitely, the role of a modern MP has undergone massive transformation in Ghana, and this calls for more innovation to assist his or her constituents. Apart from being a legislator, the MP is an ombudsman acting as a trusted intermediary between the people and government, and a social worker, addressing the needs of the people.
Mr Buah has demonstrated these potentials for change, and proved that the MP can be a conduit for development. After all, heaven helps those who help themselves.