The Tema West Municipal Assembly (TWMA) has announced that it will impose a surcharge on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the unauthorized painting of crash protection blocks with the party’s colours.
Chief Executive Officer of the Assembly, Felicia Edem Attipoe, revealed that the blocks, located at strategic points between the rail line, the Sakumono Beach road, and the median, were recently found adorned in the NDC’s black, white, green, and red colours.
This has led to concerns about public safety and the integrity of road infrastructure.
During a site visit, Ms. Attipoe expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation, stating that she had ordered the removal and replacement of the painted blocks to maintain road safety.
“Our major road at Sakumono, connecting from the beach road right down to Nungua, has been painted with NDC colours. I have called the constituency chairman to my office, and we will surcharge them. Seriously, we will surcharge them. It’s not right,” she told the media.
Ms. Attipoe criticized the decision to paint the blocks in party colours, explaining that these structures were installed to enhance visibility and safety on the road. The inappropriate colours, she said, could mislead drivers and pose a danger, particularly at night.
“When we talk about visibility, we have colours that have visibility qualities, of which black and green are not part,” she noted.
The MCE described the incident as vandalism and a destruction of public property, emphasizing that the blocks’ primary function is to aid in safety and not to serve political purposes.
She warned that using state infrastructure for political branding undermines public safety and accountability.
“I’m sounding a warning to everybody. You can’t just use a road or use anything just like that because you are in a political season. No, this is not a political road. This is a major road. This is a ceremonial road. In any case, the road has not even been handed over since it was constructed,” Ms. Attipoe added.
She also called on political parties and the general public to seek guidance from the assembly before undertaking any form of branding or modifications to state properties. The surcharge on the NDC is intended to address the costs associated with the removal of the party colours and to reinforce the importance of respecting public assets.