The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Okaikwei North, Theresa Lardi Awuni, joined her opposition colleagues on Friday, May 17, to block the approval of a US$150 million loan intended to address severe flooding issues in her constituency.
The loan was part of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project, a US$200 million initiative funded by the World Bank, aimed at enhancing flood risk management, solid waste management, and improving basic infrastructure in the Odaw River Basin communities.
Alogboshie, a suburb within the Okaikwei North Municipality, was slated to be the first beneficiary, with plans for new access roads, primary and secondary drains, street lights, and water network extensions.
The decision to block the loan has sparked outrage among residents and local leaders, who accuse Awuni of neglecting the urgent needs of her constituency.
“This decision is a betrayal,” exclaimed Kwame Asante, a resident of the constituency after hearing the news. “We have been waiting for years for improvements to our drainage systems to stop the flooding that destroys our homes and livelihoods every rainy season. For our MP to oppose this funding is unacceptable.”
Yaa Serwaa, a shop owner in Akweteyman, echoed similar sentiments. “We voted for Theresa Lardi Awuni believing she had our best interests at heart. But her actions show she does not care about our struggles. Blocking this loan means more years of suffering for us.”
“At the heart of the GARID project is the goal to enhance the living conditions of our people by providing essential infrastructure and reducing flood risks,” Asenso-Boakye stated. “The commencement of these projects in Alogboshie, and soon in Akweteyman and Nima, is a step towards a more resilient Greater Accra.”
The GARID project is viewed as a lifeline for low-income communities, including Akweteyman and Nima, which grapple with significant flooding challenges.
Former Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, underscored the project’s significance at a sod-cutting ceremony last December, stressing the benefits of improved public services and reduced flood risks.
Is it Witchcraft or what NDC MP Theresa Awuni Informed his people to reject a facility that will help his constituents at this point it should be every Ghanaian dream to reject the NDC again come 7 December.
— SOLOMON AMOAKO (@AmoakoKwam) May 18, 2024
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