Road developments not for votes – Nii Lante

Member of Parliament (MP) for the Odododiodio constituency, Nii Lante Vanderpuije, has dismissed claims that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is targeting specific areas for development projects because the country is in an election year.

Speaking ahead of the inauguration of the Accra Central streets rehabilitation project by President John Mahama on Saturday January 16, 2016, the deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said government is not trying to please anyone but just delivering on its mandate.

He told Class News governance is a continuous process, adding that since the budget for the roads was drawn two years ago, the current rehabilitation works were long overdue.

“Two years now, I remember it was mentioned in the budget, and, so, we are grateful that after all, it’s coming up.

“I was in parliament last year when we fought and passed the bill for this particular loan facility to be granted by the Brazilian government to embark upon this road…100km of road in Accra.

“Some MPs from the Greater Accra region from both sides spoke highly of this project. The critics, expect them to say whatever they want to say:…. ‘We are in an election year that’s why government is doing the roads,’ but I don’t believe if we are in an election year, people should not eat.

“If people will eat, then the roads will also need to be rehabilitated because at the end of it all, it’s about the welfare of the people and we have a government that thinks about the welfare of the people. So, we will continue to do development, we will continue to do whatever makes the people happy no matter what people say and, however, they interpret it.”