Parliamentary candidate representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Okaikoi South, Ernest Adomako, has accused members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency of blocking his efforts to single handedly fix the deteriorating roads in the Avenor area.
Adomako, in a phone-in interview with an Accra based radio station expressed his frustration at the ongoing challenges he faces in trying to address the poor road conditions.
According to him, “this is the second time I have tried to tackle the poor road conditions in this area, which has proved futile,” he stated.
Mr. Adomako contends that the resistance from the NPP members in the constituency is driven by their apprehension of embarrassment and potential loss of credibility. This is particularly significant as the incumbent MP of Avenor and its surroundings currently represents the NPP.
“I believe the NPP knows they will be discredited if they allow an individual like me, under the ticket of the NDC, to successfully repair the roads,” Adomako said on May 30,2024.
He further emphasised the absence of support from the local Assembly, despite numerous notifications and requests for collaboration.
“We have informed the Assembly on several occasions and continue to do so, but they have not availed themselves to help the course and give us the go-ahead,” he noted.
His disgruntlement and frustration not only stem from just the prohibition of fixing the Avenor road but also fixing the Bubuashie-Atiko road, which was his first attempt.
However, despite the financial intensity involved in fixing the roads, he contends his commitment and readiness to do so anyway.
“It is a financially intensive initiative, so money will go into this. This is the second time I have tried fixing the road and being hindered. The first one is around the Bubuashie-Atiko stretch leading to the Darkuman post office Kokompe. The road there is appalling, and in the same vein, I was instructed to halt the project.”
We, the NDC, refuse to idly sit back and watch our roads deteriorate. We took the initiative to fix it. The construction is not an easy fix where you say you will pour sand, and that is it. It is so depleted and deteriorated. Just sand will not fix it. It is a busy road. The government should not even wait for an individual to do this” he added.
He emphasised the broader implications of poor infrastructure on the nation’s image and business environment saying, “this is why nobody takes Ghana seriously; nobody respects us nor regards us. Ghanaian businesses are struggling, so why should our roads be bad to top all that?
If we complain, then the people in authority insult us. And worst of all, if an individual avails himself to do the work that needs to be done, they refuse to have you do it.”