Bishop Abraham Aidoo, independent parliamentary candidate for Kpone Katamanso, has stressed the importance of individual development as a pathway to strengthening families and communities.

His empowerment initiative has so far trained 50 residents of Zenu in practical skills to help them become self-employed, establish small businesses and develop sustainable livelihoods.

Bishop Aidoo said the programme forms part of his broader vision of placing individual empowerment at the centre of development in the constituency.

He said residents must continue to demand better roads, water, healthcare, education, electricity, employment opportunities and other essential infrastructure from government.

However, he said individuals must also acquire the knowledge and skills needed to create opportunities for themselves.

“We cannot simply sit and wait. We must rise. We must learn. We must work. We must build,” he said.

The Zenu training brings the number of communities participating in the initiative to several areas across the constituency, including Apollonia and its environs, Oyibi, Zenu and parts of Lebanon.

Bishop Aidoo said the training is being provided free of charge to remove financial barriers that could prevent residents from acquiring practical skills.

He said the impact of the programme should not be measured only by the number of people trained, because each beneficiary has the potential to improve the fortunes of a family and contribute to wider community development.

“Develop one individual and you can change a family. Develop families and you can transform communities. Transform communities and you can build a stronger constituency,” he said.

He said his empowerment agenda is focused on individual development and education, particularly for young people and women.

Bishop Aidoo also called for political actors in Kpone Katamanso to focus on ideas, solutions, records and their visions for the constituency rather than insults and personal attacks.

He said residents should be able to assess the priorities and plans of those seeking to lead them before making informed decisions.

According to him, Kpone Katamanso needs a development agenda that combines government responsibility with individual empowerment.

He said his vision is to create opportunities for young people, help women establish sustainable businesses and treat education as an investment in the constituency.

Bishop Aidoo said the 50 beneficiaries in Zenu had taken another step towards acquiring skills and improving their economic prospects, adding that the training and empowerment programme would continue across the constituency.

“Listen. Serve. Empower. Develop,” he said.