Ashaiman MP begs residents

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region has appealed to angry residents not to embark on a demonstration.

He said he had adopted measures to encourage the authorities to expedite action on the rehabilitation of roads in the Municipality.

Hon. Alfred Kwami Agbesi called on the youth, commercial drivers and road users to exercise patience with the authorities.

“I have the permission of the authorities to appeal to the youth, commercial and private drivers and other road users, and indeed all Ashaiman residents to be patient in this matter. The President has not forgotten Ashaiman, our dreams will be realised soon,” the Ashaiman MP mentioned.

He made the appeal at a news conference at the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) on Tuesday on developmental challenges and other pressing issues.

Most irate inhabitants and drivers in Ashaiman are gearing up to embark on another massive demonstration against the ASHMA, government and the MP for neglecting the development of the area and failing to provide job opportunities for unemployed youth.

Drivers and residents on June 23, 2013 staged a violent demonstration to get authorities to fix their dusty roads in a month.

They have also called on the authorities to prepare for another showdown with the police in area which would involve the burning of lorry tyres, among others.

After the initial violent protest, the immediate-past Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Numo Adinortey Addison, immediately ordered the contractor, Legna Construction Limited to rehabilitate the road.

A week after the contractor moved to site, work stalled for over three months, as the contractor claimed government had failed to release funds for the project.

Government is said to own the contractor over GH?4million for work done in Tema Metropolis.

Although roads in Ashaiman are not in good shape, the situation does not call for demonstration by the residents because the contractor would be paid for work to resume, Hon. Agbesi indicated.

He said, “I accompanied officials of Legna (the contractor) to the appropriate authorities for the needed funds to complete at least the dual carriage road. Some funds were released, hence the partial completion of the portion from Astardy Roundabout.”

Hon. Agbesi concurred with Ashaiman residents that there were no jobs in the area, particularly for the numerous qualified persons who migrate on daily basis to Ashaiman in search of non-existent white colour jobs.

He noted that plans are far advanced for the Presidency to appoint qualified person in Ashaiman with High Nationa Diploma (HND) and degrees to boards, corporations and other institutions.

On the ASHMA’s decision to collect fee to issue temporary permits to petty traders, the Ashaiman MP stated that petty traders must not be asked to honour their statutory obligations by paying permit fees.

According to him, “I apologise to anybody who might have been injured during the execution of the Assembly’s mandate. Let us put whatever has happened behind us and stop the planned demonstrations and the media war since the situation is under control.”

He called on Assembly members and residents to rally behind the nominated Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Ibrahim Baidoo.

The legislator, on behalf of the Ashaiman National Democratic Congress (NDC) Executive Committee, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the President for the nomination of Mr Baidoo.