Community threaten to boycott election and block roads

Yaase (Ash), July 3, GNA - The chiefs and people of Yaase, near Kuntanase in the Bosomtwi District of Ashanti have threatened to boycott upcoming elections a two-kilometre road linking the community to Kuntanase is not rehabilitated.

They described the road as the worst in the Region and threatened to block it to traffic on Election Day.

Nana Sarpong Kumankuma, Gyantoahene of Yaase, said although the New Patriotic Party won more than 80 percent votes from the community in the 2004 elections, they have not enjoyed their share of the national cake. Nana Kumankuma said this when the newly appointed District Chief Executive for Bosomtwi, Mr. James Fosu, visited the community to introduce himself and interact with them.

He said due to the poor nature of the road, the people found it difficult to transport cocoa and food stuffs to Kuntanase and other marketing centres in the country.

The chief said due to overpopulation and congestion at the local Junior High School (JHS), pupils from the community had been walking long distances to school at Kuntanase and appealed to the Assembly to construct a new school block for the community.

The Member of Parliament for Bosomtwi, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, who accompanied the DCE, said plans were far advanced for rehabilitation of the road to begin and urged the people to exercise patience. Mr. Owusu Aduomi, Bosomtwi District Information Service Officer briefed the people on government policies such as the newly introduced talk tax and the National Health Insurance Scheme.