Agona West NDC regrets politicisation of issues

Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Agona West Constituency in the Central Region have expressed regret about the politicisation of the damaged Bailey bridge across River Akora by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

They said the decision by the NPP to demonstrate on May 15, 2014, if they did not see concrete steps being taken by the government and the contractor who destroyed the bridge, was unfortunate, regrettable and politically motivated.

According to the NDC, disasters are no respecter of persons, or have no political colour and so the decision by the NPP to demonstrate against the government and the contractor can be an attempt by the party to stampede the process in order to score cheap political points.

NPP Press conference

The Agona West NPP, led by its second Vice-Chairman, Mr Gibrien Tanko Toye, last week addressed a press conference where he stated the party’s displeasure at the slow pace of work towards the reconstruction of the damaged bridge.

The party has given a May 15, 2014 ultimatum to the government and the contractor to begin actual reconstruction of the bridge, failure of which members of the party would embark on a demonstration. 

Addressing a press conference organised by the Agona West communications team of the NDC last Monday in reaction to that of the NPP’s held last week, the Communications Team Director, Mr Emmanuel Korley, said since the destruction of the bridge on February 9, 2014, the then Central Regional Minster, Dr Samuel Sarpong; the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Akwasi Opong-Fosu; Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah; the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, among others, had visited to assess the extent of damage to the bridge.

He noted that the Member of Parliament for Agona West, Mr Charles Obeng-Inkoom, together with the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Oppong, had since been doing follow-ups to ensure the rebuilding of the damaged bridge.

He explained that further blasting needed to be carried out under the bridge by the contractor dredging the Akora River, Las Adventuras Limited, before actual reconstruction of the bridge could begin.

He pointed out that the MP for the area and the MCE had worked in close collaboration with the contractor and secured clearance from the security agencies and the Minerals Commission for the blasting to be done.

According to the party, blasting companies recommended by the Minerals Commission visited the site on April 26, 2014 and the contractor has finalised arrangements for the blasting to be done early next week, which is expected to be completed within two weeks to pave the way for the rebuilding of the bridge.