Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey, has criticised the incumbent government for failing to fix the bad roads in his constituency despite residents embarking on protests and having their concerns hammered in Parliament.
In response to the high levels of air pollution, discomfort experienced by the motoring public, and prolonged gridlocks faced by Ashaiman residents, MP Ernest Norgbey has taken the initiative to reshape four kilometers of the most deteriorated portions of the municipality’s extensive 160-kilometer road network.
During the road reshaping, MP Norgbey said, “I have received numerous complaints about the deplorable state of the roads. I feel their pain, having used these roads myself. Despite demonstrations and raising the issues in Parliament, the assembly and government remain unresponsive.”
Mr Ernest Norgbey expressed the belief that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) should be an exception.
“I cannot sit idly while my people suffer, so I have decided on a temporary reshaping of four or five kilometers of the road. I hope and pray that when the NDC government assumes power, the 166 km of roads in the municipality will be tarred,” assured Ernest Norgbey.
Mr Norgbey encouraged residents to lend their ears to him and John Dramani Mahama, assuring them of decisive action if the road conditions in Ashaiman continue to be neglected.
Now, upset residents of Ashaiman, near Tema in the Greater Accra region, are issuing a caution to politicians against campaigning for votes in the municipality.
The residents attribute their stance to what they perceive as eight years of neglected road infrastructure. Despite their pleas and multiple demonstrations drawing attention to the poor state of the roads, no improvements have been made.
The warning from the frustrated residents was explicitly conveyed during a road rehabilitation initiative led by the Member of Parliament for the area, Ernest Norgbey, on January 25, 2024.
The residents emphasized that politicians should abstain from political campaigns until the roads receive full rehabilitation, underscoring the urgency and priority they place on the improvement of the local road infrastructure.
Francis Azorliade, a resident, asserted that “If they neglect Ashaiman’s roads, no political party should dare to campaign here. We are prepared to sacrifice for our people.”
He added, “Our message goes out to the NPP, NDC, PPP, and all political parties: Address the roads in Ashaiman, or refrain from campaigning here, period!”
A 38-year-old mother of three and a petty trader along the VALCO Flats to Lebanon road highlighted daily struggles with dust due to the deplorable state of the road. She lamented, “They only pay attention during elections; hence, we’ve decided not to vote.”
The residents, in turn, have pledged to disrupt any electoral process if significant improvements are not made to the state of roads before the general elections later this year.