Ashaiman roads: Another demo looms

Members of the Ashaiman Municipal Private Transport Operators’ Co-ordinating Council (AMPTOCC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party supporters are gearing up for another demonstration to protest the delay in completing roads in the town.

A reliable source told The Finder that the planned demonstration is to remind government of its promise to them during the run-up to the 2012 election to complete the road projects as soon as possible.

“We can’t wait any longer and we have, in fact, run out of patience. Our vehicles are breaking down on this wicked Main Station-Under Bridge road. The solution is another demonstration,” a trotro driver who commutes between Nungua and Ashaiman said.

It would be recalled that drivers and a section of the youth in Ashaiman in June 2013 embarked on a violent demonstration to protest the poor conditions of roads in the municipality.

Works on the dual-carriage road from the Adjei Kojo under-bridge through the main Ashaiman traffic light to the roundabout on the Tema-Akosombo road to bring relief to road users have halted.

The stretch of road from the Adjei Kojo under-bridge end to the main Ashaiman traffic light becomes unmotorable anytime it rains, and the travelling public become stranded because there is no walkway for them to go to the main Ashaiman lorry park.

The rains deposit a mixture of sand and water on the road and make it difficult for vehicles to drive through; it is even more difficult for pedestrians to get across.

Last year, a contract was awarded, and in September contractors were seen tarring portions of the road, specifically the stretch from the Ashaiman timber market roundabout through the frontage of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) to the main Ashaiman traffic light.

Work has, however, been slow and the residents have called on the contractor to expedite work to save the situation.

However, Legna Construction Works Limited, the contractor working on the dual-carriageway, has moved from site due to government’s inability to release funds.

A source at Legna told The Finder on condition of anonymity that the project was pre-financed, but five of the company’s certificates submitted to the Finance Ministry for claims for various stages of completion have not been honoured.

Legna Construction Works Limited on July 6, 2012 was re-assigned the construction work by the former Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, after terminating the contract with Lomenf Construction Work for non-performance.

Some NDC Executives in the constituency told The Finder that they were ready to join in the demonstration “because we have been fooled for quite too long. All Ashaiman is asking for is for our government to complete this dual-carriageway for us and we will be okay.”