Lepers protest over seized bus
Their mission; to ask for the return of a bus donated to them but which had been seized and parked in the yard of the VRCC.
The cured lepers, numbering over 50 who went on the demonstration, arrived at the VRCC bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Give us back our bus”, “We want our bus with number GM 5915-12”.
They came aboard a truck with their set of locally manufactured musical instruments. Upon disembarking, they positioned their benches which they had carried along with them, set up a stage and began singing, drumming and dancing.
The spectacle and the noise from their music brought many people out of their offices as work was brought to a temporary halt.
The artistic display continued even when their leaders who were locked in negotiations nearby with authorities at the VRCC had signalled them to stop. Interestingly, the heavy downpour did not even deter them.
The emotionally charged group continued with their display until the Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, came down with his deputy to meet them.
The Regional Minister, Nii Afotey Agbo, initially asked the lepers to move out of the rain. When they would not budge, there was little that he could do but join them in the rain.
Thereupon the regional minister declared, “I am going to donate this bus to you”. Nii Afotey Agbo then climbed into the driver’s seat followed by some officials of the VRCC, and parked the bus closer to the spot where the group was gathered.
Following that the lepers were asked to get on board after which he drove them himself to their destination and handed over the bus to them, stating that the bus, which was bought through the Common Fund, was intended to help alleviate their plight.
In a chat with The Mirror, the Projects Director of the Cured Lepers Foundation, Mr Robert Stanley Ahorlu, disclosed that the bus was part of a promise a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, made to the foundation close to the December 2012 elections.
He said in addition to the bus the foundation was also assured of streetlights around their village, a television set, as well as the construction of a wall to their living quarters.
According to Mr Ahorlu, out of the promises, the minister was able to redeem all apart from the construction of the wall.
However, earlier this year, a bus donated to the cured lepers on behalf of Mr Ofosu Ampofo and was received by the Medical Superintendent in charge of the Ho Polyclinic, which has oversight responsibility over persons afflicted with leprosy, developed into controversy involving a non-governmental organisation that offers assistance to cured lepers and management of the polyclinic.
To end the standoff, the VRCC had to step in and so took custody of the bus pending final determination of the matter.
By Victor Kwawukume/Ghana