MPs not engineers to construct roads – NPP MP hits back at constituents

The Chairman of the Finance Committee in parliament, Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah stated categorically that it is not the duty of lawmakers in the country to construct roads as demanded by agitating constituents and that they are not engineers.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region, has therefore advised most especially constituents against asking their MPs to attend to their poor road infrastructure. He intimated that the only way lawmakers can do is to lobby for roads construction.

Speaking on Kumasi-based Pure FM with Kwame Adinkra monitored by MyNewsGh.com, the legislator explained that, as constituency’s representatives, the farthest they can go is to draw the attention of authorities as to the roads they want them to construct. Beyond that, they cannot do anything as an MP, they don’t even have the money to construct a kilometer of road.

“Kwame, MPs do not construct roads. Like where I stay in Accra, my neighbors complain of the poor road network and the same is in my constituency but Kwame, it must be made clear that MPs do not construct roads, you can only draw the attention of the authorities and if the Road Minister agrees to do it for you, we say you have lobbied. Beyond that, you can’t do anything as an MP, you don’t even have the money to construct a kilometer of road.”

He further questioned that if Asawase MP, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak is an engineer that he goes about saying he has constructed roads in his constituency.

“Kwame, is Muntaka an engineer? If the things is 5KM and they do 4.5KM will you be the one to measure that it isn’t 5KM they did? We have engineers, department of urban roads, consultants that are responsible for this. That is not our job. We should stop that MPs do roads and I did this road. That is why people get angry at MPs and blame us for poor road infrastructure. Don’t make yourself an engineer or road constructor. That is not the work of an MP.” He stated.

Parliament has approved a €55-million facility for the rehabilitation of a 100-kilometre road network and street projects for some towns and communities in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The facility is a credit agreement between the government of Ghana and the Deutsche Bank meant for Auxiliary Infrastructure of Kumasi inner-city roads and a commercial agreement between the Ministry of Roads and Highways and a construction firm, Contracta Construction UK for the implementation of the project.

The scope of works to be undertaken as part of the projects include the rehabilitation of roads, Provision of traffic management and pedestrian safety facilities including road-line marking and installation of road markings, traffic signs and traffic control devices and Rehabilitation of drainage facilities.

After Parliament’s consideration and approval, the project is expected to be completed within a period of 24 months from the commencement date.