Former Deputy Minister of Roads Complains Government on Tarkwa Bad Roads

General News on Friday, April 12, 2019

Source: X Y Z

2019-04-12

Mr. Isaac Adjei-Mensah, former Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, blamed the Akufo-Addo government for failing to repair the bad roads in the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality in the western region.

He said that the government led by Mahama, of which he was minister, had awarded numerous road contracts in the region, but that the Akufo-Addo government, after securing power, had suspended the construction of roads .

He blames the government for the bad nature of the Tarkwa roads, pointing out that the government is not committed to repairing roads in the region despite the many promises made to the people.

His comment follows a protest organized by a group of residents of Tarkwa-Nsuaem on the nature of their roads. The group known as Tarkwa's "worried citizens" stormed the streets after a two-week ultimatum to the government to repair the roads.

Protesters with red stripes and placards blocked the main road, set burning car tires in the middle of the road and prevented vehicles from entering and leaving the municipality.

Some of the protesters said that they had overwhelmingly voted for the new Patriotic Party (NPP) in the government because they had been promised better roads.

"We are disappointed by this government … Our roads are too bad and they [government] does not seem to care, "some protesters said angrily.

But, reacting to the show on Dwaboase, a political debate on Power 97.9 FM, Mr. Adje-Mensah, whose constituency, Wbada East, shares its borders with Tarkwa, said that he did not know why the government had not repaired the roads [NDC government] set the tone so that work begins on some of the major roads in the area.

"This is unacceptable. I am not talking about people protesting against bad roads, but the government … we have maintained some of the roads in Tarkwa, but as the city grows, other roads need to be repaired to meet the needs of the people. people. I do not see why the government would not walk the roads, "said the former minister to Akan.

He noted that construction work on the roads had been delayed because the government could not guarantee sufficient funding for road projects.

"I hear Asabea [the contractor on the road] was not paid for the project … This [NPP] the administration does not want to repair the roads and I see this as an insult to the chiefs and the inhabitants of the region, because the Minister of Roads was recently on the spot and made many promises to the population, "he said. -he adds.

Threatening agitations

Meanwhile, one of the protesters' coordinators, Eric Asiedu, who spoke with Starr FM, based in Accra, said he was closely monitoring the measures that the authorities should take to respond to their concerns, otherwise new protests await them.

He added that the event aimed to "give lessons to the authorities of the region", adding: "After two weeks, if no action is taken, another press conference will take place".

But Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality (MCE) general manager Gilbert Ken Asmah has called on protesters to talk to each other instead of hitting the streets again.

He added that residents' concerns had been pbaded on to the Western Regional Minister for action.