Residents in Ashaiman, led by the Coalition of Ashaiman Residents, have demonstrated against the government over the bad nature of their roads.
The roads include the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly Traffic Light to Presby section of the Ashaiman Agyei Kwadwo main road, the Ashaiman Overhead to Zenu road’s main market to Lebanon section, and the Community 22 to Lebanon inner roads and the Ashaiman Newtown Junction to Afariwa Junction road.
Freeman Tsekpo, the assemblyman representing the Nii Komieteh Electoral area, petitioned the Municipal Chief Executive of Ashaiman, Albert Boakye Okyere on behalf of the residents.
“We ask as a matter of urgency for the government to instruct all contractors that have been awarded road contracts in Ashaiman Municipality to come to the site, and work on fixing our roads. We demand that the following major sections of the roads be fixed immediately.”
Freeman Tsekpo
He further issued a two-month ultimatum to the government to start work on the road. He indicated that the residents of Ashaiman were determined to march to the road and highways ministry should the government default on their ultimatum.
“If within two calendar months, we do not see any action of works within the community we will organize another march. This time we will march to the ministry and picket at the Ministry of Roads and Highways. It is our prayer that this call will be given the needed attention.”
Freeman Tsekpo
Ernest Norgbey, the Member of Parliament of Ashaiman Constituency, voiced worry over the government’s purposeful decision to deny Ashaiman inhabitants access to good roads.
“I have said it in so many media outlets, we have fought to draw the government’s attention to the bad nature of our roads but unfortunately the central government refuses to heed to our plight. And that is why today’s demonstration is very important for the people of Ashaiman.”
Ernest Norgbey
He charged the government to get the contractors to start work on the roads.
“We are saying enough is enough all of us use the same road. Our cars and everything is getting damaged. So we are pleading on behalf of the people of Ashaiman that the government should do the needful and bring the contractors back to the site so that the people of Ashaiman will have some relief.”
Ernest Norgbey
Residents Express Revulsion
Some residents, too, have been calling on the MCE for the area, Albert Boakye Okyere, to as a matter of urgency begin works on the road.
The protestors blocked major roads as part of their demonstrations over their bad roads. The Ashaiman traffic crossroads, which connects Ashaiman to portions of Tema, Adjei Kojo, Oyibi-Somanya road, and Ashaiman roundabout, as well as the Tema-Akosombo highway, have all been stopped by protesters as a result.
According to Millicent Apraku, a resident of Ashaiman, the neglect of the area by the ruling government is very regrettable.
“The MCE says here [Ashaiman] is the stronghold of the NDC. But I can tell you the fact that during the 2020 election, the NPP had 36,000 votes in Ashaiman here. So how can you tell us that here is the stronghold of the NDC so you can’t fix our roads? Ashaiman deserves better…”
Millicent Apraku
Another protester said the Member of Parliament for the Constituency, Ernest Henry Norgbey, must do more to get the road fixed.
“We know the MP doesn’t fix roads, right? So he being our mouthpiece, he must go to the assembly and make that thing happen but we always hear, ‘My government is not in power so I can’t do anything’. But that’s not it…”
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