<<Print>>

Residents in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region are seething with anger over a decision by the Assembly not to allow the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate in the area, Nenyi George Andah from grading the road between Bawjiase and Obrachire. The road has become deplorable to an extent that commercial drivers who ply it have increased their fares to make up for the maintenance of their vehicles, thereby causing residents a lot of discomfort. This was what caused the constituency Chairman of the NPP and his Secretary, Stephen Quaye and Emmanuel Andah to write to the District Chief Executive (DCE), Sampson Abbey Armah on August 25, 2015 and copied to the Traditional Council indicating the intention of their parliamentary candidate�s intention to grade the road to make it motorable. But in a response dated September 27, 2015, the DCE while appreciating their concern indicated that government has already taken the initiative to fix the road and had awarded it on contract and that site offices had been mounted at the Bawjiase Health Centre and Nantifa in that regard. But since then nothing has been done about the road, making it totally unmotorable with their calls for the road to be fixed on time almost falling on deaf ears. Anger Even though some earth moving machines including four tipper trucks and a bulldozer have been stationed at the site office at Nantifa for some time now, no construction work has yet begun. This was what has angered residents in the area to complain about the action of the DCE and to a large extent government for inhibiting George Andah�s effort to give them a sigh of relief. They considered it an attempt by not only the DCE but the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Madam Hannah Tetteh who is the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and government to frustrate the NPP candidate because they felt it could boost his popularity and chance in the 2016 general elections. Some of the residents who spoke to DAILY GUIDE expressed grave concern and disappointment at the action since according to them, sometime in February 2013, the same George Andah graded the road which provided them some relief hence wondering what could have changed if not for politics and the fact that he is now contesting the parliamentary seat there on the ticket of the NPP. Concerns A resident of Bawjiase, Alfred Sawyer said �the drivers who are plying to Swedru are complaining very bitterly and due to that have increased their fares.� �From here to Swedru, they used to charge GH�2.30 but due to the nature of the road, they are now charging GH�3.00; even when it is around 5 o�clock to 6pm, you will find it very difficult to get a car to Swedru. They will charge GH�5.00,� he narrated. DCEs response Even though it is not yet certain when work would commence on the road, the DCE Sampson Abbey Armah insists the contractor has moved to the site. Asked when the contractor moved to the site, he could not tell except to say he had just returned from a trip to Israel and was told the contractor wanted to meet him; over what, he did not know. �The nature of the road is beyond them but they want to use grader to shape the road and the contractor has come to the site and therefore they should use their money for other purpose than the road; so if they feel it is convenient for them to put their money in that venture, fine I don�t care because that is not my money�, were his exact words. He however admitted to the fact that �the road is so bad that it has been given to the contractor�if they are not satisfied, I don�t know what to tell them again�, and that he does not do politics with his job.