Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah: Afram Plains North MP receives 2022 best female MP award

The Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North constituency in the Eastern Region, Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah has been presented with the 2022 best Female lawmaker award she won ahead of her colleagues following a survey conducted by FAKS Investigative Services.

The young MP emerged as the overall joint winner of the awards together with Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Lydia Seyram Alhassan among 40 ranked Female lawmakers in the country for their exceptional service to humanity.

Speaking at a brief awards ceremony in Parliament House on Friday 10th February 2023, an elated Betty Krosbi Mensah thanked FAKS Investigative Services for recognizing her contribution to society even as a rural MP whose constituents lack several social amenities.

According to her, even though the geographical location and the disadvantaged nature of the Afram Plains North constituency do not enable her to count herself among the best, the award will spur her to give off her best.

“..This award motivates me to do more for my people. I feel a special responsibility to champion the interests of my people, especially those on the Islands. I am determined to do things differently, using my platform as a Member of Parliament to bring the necessary development to reduce the challenges facing my people,” she stated.

She recounted some of the developmental projects she has successfully executed for the people, especially the deprived and far-to-reach communities in the constituency.

These include the reshaping and gravelling of some feeder roads, building of health facilities, mostly CHPS Compounds, provision of scholarships to needy school children, erecting of pavilions for remote communities, payment of medical bills and support for persons living with disability among others.

She reiterated her resolve to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in her through the award.

Presenting the award, lead Investigator at Faks Investigative Services Mr Yaw Sarpong said the Afram Plains North MP was selected for the award following a thorough investigation into her work and visibility in the constituency, her work on the floor of parliament and based on the accounts of her colleague MPs, journalists and other stakeholders.

She was supported by her colleagues including First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim to receive the citation.

The MP for Ho West, Hon Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah commended Betty for her hard work, describing it as a challenge to all MPs, especially the female colleagues in the Legislative House.

On her part, a female MP for Pusiga, Hon Laadi Ayi Ayamba congratulated her for the award and said, it was the hard work and the trust that the constituents have for her that earned the award and encouraged her never to let down the people who voted for her to represent them in parliament.

Ms Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah entered parliament in 2017 after winning the Afram Plains North in the December 2016 general election and retaining the seat in the 2020 general elections.

She has been working since then with the Chiefs and people of the area, a constituency with over 575 communities, where over 222 of the communities are on the Islands of the Volta Lake.

Background

FAKS Investigative Services adjudged the Afram Plains North and Ayawaso West Wuogon constituencies – Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah and Lydia Seyram Alhassan as best Female MPs for the year 2022.

According to the 2022 report published by the Research and Investigative body, the two MPs topped the list of all Forty (40) Women Lawmakers in Ghana’s Parliament due to their hard work and level of development championed in their respective constituencies in the year under review.

FAKS Investigative Services annually announces the performance of Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Regional Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Chief Executive Officers of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

Concerning Members of Parliament, FAKS said its team considers development in their constituencies and works in Parliament as well.

“Our team comprises researchers, media practitioners and academia that do the assessment based on the outcome of the findings they received.

The survey took place between the months of October and December 2022 and it was the 11th Edition of FAKS’s project.

Respondents to the survey were civil society organizations (CSOs), teachers, students, business owners, drivers, traders, Journalists, traditional rulers and others.