The Road Debate

A simple call for the construction of more roads in the country on Wednesday turned into an occasion for accusations, counter-accusations and a trial of the nation’s political history.

Younger members of Parliament who hardly knew some of the crucial historical events, were to speak most, whilst the elderly sat and watched. Mr Peter Kwaku Amoabeng, NPP-Lower West Akim, had made a statement, “Good roads for national development”.

He praised Dr Kwame Nkrumah for constructing the Accra-Tema motorway.

“One cannot fathom what would have been the plight of residents of Accra and Tema who commute daily between the city and the harbour city if the 20-kilometre motorway was not built by Osagyefo.” If the motorway had not been built at that time, it could not have been built today, because we don’t have the resources for such a gigantic project.

The member lauded the efforts of President Kufuor to build more roads as part of his agenda for expanding the country’s infrastructure.

Mr Edward Salia, NDC-Jirapa, asked President Kufuor to make a confession on how he thought about the construction of roads.

Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidoo, Deputy Majority Leader, called on the member to withdraw since he could not tell when and where the President criticised the NDC administration for building roads.

Mr Kwabena Adjei, NDC-Biakoye, whose counsel had been sought by the Speaker to make a ruling said, “confession is like a web, it entangles you. It is all right for the President to confess.” Mr Salia took the floor after the objection was not sustained and said “but you said money was wasted on the motorway?

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Chief Whip, who braved a hurl of heckling, said some of us thought the money spent on the motorway could have built 400,000 housing units, which was the most preferred priority at that time.

Mr Salia, still unscathed, said, “people do not understand the economics of road construction.”

Hardly had the furore died down, when Alhaji Abah, NDC-Chereponi, told his sad and funny story.

“If you think the Mallam-Yamoransa road is bad, we do not think so, if that road could be rolled away before its rehabilitation, we would have grabbed it. It would be considered as a super highway in our area.”

Mr Seidu Paakuna Adamu, NDC-Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai, Mrs Edith Hazel, NDC-Evalue-Gwira, and Mr Boahene Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, all members from Western Region, took over virtually making it a Western affair. Mr Seidu had called for an enquiry into the award of contracts in the Region adding that most contractors had not been paid for jobs done. Mr Boahene said “I would rather call for an enquiry into the award of contracts for the past ten years because I know of a road that was supposed to be made within eight-months at the of cost ?8 million, but rather took eight-years to make at the cost of 80 million cedis.

This happened when Mr Seidu was a Deputy Regional Minister. The long day had to end with yet another accusation and a slip.

Mr Isaac Amoo, NPP-Ayawaso-Wuogon, said the people of the Upper West Region would be forever grateful to Mr Edward Salia for constructing a bitumen-surfaced road in the area, “but that road had to go through his constituency.”

Alhaji M.A.Seidu, NDC-Wa Central, in an attempt to defend his compatriot, said “there is no road with bitumen in the whole region.” “I meant that there is no asphalted road.”