Parliament ignores victims, families of Kintampo accident?

Following the ghastly accident which claimed 35 lives, all who got burnt beyond recognition on the Kintampo-Tamale highway, there were several expectations that the legislators will commemorate or at the very least address the carnage on the stretch; especially because the Transport Minister had been summoned by the house to respond to questions from some members.

There was, however, business as usual; right from the commencement of the session upon the Speaker’s directive, no pronouncements were made in that regard.

Discussions in the parliamentary chamber, which was only half full, with several members absent were mostly centered on the International Women’s Day observed on Sunday, March 8 across the globe.

Minister for Gender, Women and Children Affairs presented her statement on campaigns and measures taken by her outfit to cull child trafficking. She also made pronouncements on updates regarding government’s school feeding programme, and the celebrations, while advocating for women to take up more roles in society and public offices.

She pleaded with electorate and party executives to give women the chance to win the primaries as that will increase their participation.

Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah taking his turn, addressed the House on the progress his outfit had undertaken to develop a port in the Keta municipality.

“Mr Speaker, the development of the Port of Keta has always been the dream of the people of the Volta Region in general, and those of the Keta Municipality in particular. While unsuccessful attempts have been made by some private entities through some citizens of the area to initiate a port, the chiefs and people of the region have tirelessly explored options and sought past government’s support and interest to build a port in Keta.

“It, therefore, took the visionary leadership of the current president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP administration to heed to the call of the chiefs and people of the region and he has initiated concrete steps to make this dream a reality.

“Mr. Speaker, this government through the Ministry of Transport is going through the necessary process to develop the Keta Port Project,” he stated.

No submissions were made by the Minister concerning the road accident in the area which is fast gaining notoriety on claiming of lives of road users on the stretch.

Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who was also in parliament to respond to questions regarding the ratification of the Africa Union (AU) Protocol on Free Movement, stated that her outfit was liaising with the Ministry of Interior and Ghana Immigration Service to ensure the appropriate cabinet approval.



About 30 passengers were burnt beyond recognition after a collision between a mini sprinter bus and a Yutong bus Monday morning on the Kintampo- Tamale highway.

Kintampo-based Nkomode FM reported that both vehicles went up in flames after the crash.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has shared his sympathies with the bereaved families in a tweet on Tuesday morning.

"My sympathies and condolences go to all the families and loved ones of the deceased in Monday’s horrific accident on the Kintampo-Tamale Highway. May their souls Rest In Peace. I also wish the injured a speedy recovery," his tweet read.