Residents of Ashaiman, a municipality in the Greater Accra region, who are angry and accuse politicians of ignoring their pleas for eight years, are warning them not to run for office in the municipality.
There have been no adjustments to the deplorable condition of the residents’ roads, despite their repeated protests and pleadings.
On January 25, 2024, during a road renovation initiative headed by the local MP, Ernest Norgbey, the irate citizens issued the warning.
Politicians were sternly admonished by locals to hold off on running for office until the roads had been completely repaired.
A local named Francis Azorliade declared, “No political party should dare to campaign here if they neglect Ashaiman’s roads.” We are willing to make sacrifices for our community.”
He continued, “Our message goes out to the NPP, NDC, PPP, and all political parties: Address the roads in Ashaiman, or refrain from campaigning here, period!”
Due to the terrible condition of the road, a 38-year-old mother of three and a small merchant along the VALCO Flats to Lebanon road emphasized their daily battles with dust. She complained, “They only pay attention during elections; hence, we’ve decided not to vote.”
High air pollution, traffic congestion, and hours of stuck traffic for Ashaiman residents were the main reasons for MP Ernest Norgbey to start reconstructing four kilometers of the worst sections of the municipality’s 160 km road network.
In response to locals’ worries that politicians shouldn’t be allowed to campaign in Ashaiman because of the terrible condition of the roads, Norgbey thinks the NDC ought to be an exception.
He called on the people to focus their ire on the current administration, highlighting Ashaiman’s lack of representation in the national cake. Norgbey urged locals to pay attention to him and John Dramani Mahama, pledging to take action if the roads are not maintained.
If the condition of the roads does not improve before the general elections later this year, locals have threatened to sabotage any electoral process.
