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'Wahala' Organisers To Padlock Their Lips?

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 Source: Ghanaian Chronicle

... As gov't moves to flood roads with more metro buses

The Deputy Minister for Roads and Transport, Mr. Magnus Opare - Asamoah (a.k.a. Big M), has stated that very soon, the organizers of the 'Wahala March will padlock their lips and would not be able to win followers to demonstrate against government.'


According to him, more buses of the Metro Mass Transit System would be brought down to make transportation in the communities and districts less difficult and less costly.


Mr. Opare -Asamoah stated this at the people's assembly forum held at the Nsawam Presby School on April 14, this year.


He said so far, there are 350 buses in the country but hopes it will increase to 1,000 by the end of the year to salvage any suffering the masses go through in transportation Big M noted that the organizers of the 'Wahala' March drive in porch cars and live big and only park their cars and walk to deceive their followers.


"Government is much concerned about the less financed in the system, that was why it introduced the Metro Mass Transit System which is less costive and the general public has patronized very well," he held.


The deputy road and transport minister observed that when the buses system becomes fully operational, the 'Wahala' marchers would become quiet because transportation fares would become low cost effective.

On the same issue of the fuel price increases, the eastern regional minister, Mr. Yaw Barimah made it clear that the stark reality of it all was that the government does not want to create huge debts for future governments to come and pay, so people should bear with the government.


He observed that when private companies spring up, it will create a lot of job opportunities for the youth and at the same time generate enough revenue so the district assemblies should formulate policies and programmes to help establish more private companies in their district.


Mr. Yaw Barimah hinted that soon, the ministry of trade and industries would introduce a project whereby a large scale of the youth would go into large scale farming to earn a living.


The Regional Minister pleaded with chiefs and custodians of land to release their lands to enable the youth take to faming when the programme is introduced.


According to him, since he assumed office as the Regional Minister, he has not been happy with the progress of some of the roads under construction by certain contractors and said he had asked the department of urban road and high ways to furnish him with reports on roads under construction.


"Those contractors whose work would be found to have come to a stand still and call for abrogation and rewarding , it would be done so that the proper thing will be done to create comfort for all," he warned.

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle