Anas Aremeyaw Anas
Multiple award-winning investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has commented on the recent chaotic demonstration that took place on the Adenta-Madina highway by residents who protested the abandoned footbridges on that stretch.
According to a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Pulse.com.gh, Anas indicated that the demonstration was a warning to leaders of the country not to take the power of the citizens for granted.
Anas made the comment while speaking Anas to students of the Koforidua Technical University and others from selected second-cycle institutions during a youth leadership summit jointly organised by Sertoh Leadership International and the AFRIWIC International Organisation.
"When we all sit down and say because it is happening to the people of Adentan, so, we don't care, one day you never know when you will drive there and the people will get insane and that's when you will see what the people’s power means," Anas said.
He added that, “[The riots] were a valuable lesson to all of us and I believe that all of you should take a cue from it.
You may think that you have educated yourself and you want to stay in Accra and leave your villages unattended to."
"If the water in your village is poisoned, if your child does not die, if you don't die, your grandmother will die," he added.
Ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has said that the recent demonstration by residents of Adentan should serve as a wake-up call to politicians.
He said it should serve as a warning to elected leaders about the might of an agitated citizenry.
Last Thursday, residents of Adentan and its environs protested against the lack of footbridges on the Madina-Adentan highway.
The death of an 18-year-old first-year student of West Africa Senior High School (WASS) sparked this spontaneous riots on the highway which resulted in a gridlock, compelling police and fire officers to intervene.
Angry residents, in registering their displeasure over the recent deaths, blocked the highway and burned tyres which caused a total gridlock.
Police rushed to the scene to calm situations down but tempers had already flared and the law enforcers had to resort to rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
A woman, after the incident, claimed the police aimed at her car and shot at it causing her and her 14-year-old son to be hit by a bullet.
In the aftermath of the chaotic demonstration, President Akufo-Addo waded into the situation and commiserated with the bereaved family.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways has also announced that work on the uncompleted pedestrian bridges will commence within a week.
Temporarily, the Ministry in collaboration with the Interior Ministry has requested the Ghana Police Service to deploy officers of the Motor Traffic Unit to prevent further accidents.
