A 22-year-old law student, Nana Agyeiwaa Baffoe-Bonnie Michaels, popularly known as Okordie, has announced her intention to contest the Manhyia South parliamentary seat in the Ashanti Region in the 2028 general election on the ticket of the newly formed The Base Movement Ghana, promising accessible, accountable and people-centred leadership.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Ashanti Regional office in Kumasi, she said her decision was driven by years of witnessing and experiencing the challenges confronting residents of the constituency.

“I understand the struggles of the people because I have lived through them. It is time for a new kind of leadership that listens, serves and delivers,” she said.

The aspiring parliamentary candidate identified 12 major challenges facing Manhyia South, including youth unemployment, limited support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), inadequate skills and vocational training opportunities, poor educational infrastructure and gaps in healthcare delivery.

She also highlighted poor roads and drainage systems, sanitation challenges, security concerns, inadequate support for women and girls, limited sports and recreational facilities, digital exclusion and weak citizen engagement by elected leaders.

According to her, many of these challenges persist because  political leaders have placed party interests above the needs of the people.

“I proudly identify with the Base Movement Ghana because it is committed to putting Ghana first, empowering citizens, promoting accountability and creating opportunities for all,” she said.

She argued that politics must move beyond rhetoric and focus on practical solutions, innovation and measurable results.

Outlining her vision for the constituency, Ms. Michaels said she would prioritise youth employment, entrepreneurship and skills development, while expanding economic opportunities for women and improving education and healthcare services.

She said her agenda also includes promoting local businesses, attracting investment, strengthening transparency and accountability in governance, and fostering collaboration with traditional authorities, faith-based organisations, civil society groups and the private sector.

She pledged to run an issue-based campaign grounded in respect, peace and dignity and appealed to residents of the constituency, irrespective of their age, background or political affiliation, to support what she described as a movement for positive change.

Expressing confidence in the constituency’s future, she said Manhyia South could become a place where young people have opportunities, women are economically empowered, businesses flourish and communities thrive.

“The time has come for a new generation of leadership that listens, serves and delivers. Together, we can build a stronger Manhyia South and a stronger Ghana,” she said.