Masaudu Moro (Middle) addressing the press conference. With him in the picture is Nii Kommey, Acting Gyasetse (Left) and one of the tribal chiefs from the area.
Residents of Ashaiman have threatened to boycott the 2012 general elections if the Mills administration fails to assist them to secure a parcel of land near Michel Camp, which was released to the Free Zones Board for the construction staff bungalows.
They appealed to the government to ensure that the said land is released to the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) for the construction of a law court, hospital, post office, among others.
Addressing a press conference yesterday at the Kaketo Park in Ashaiman, Masaudu Moro, Chief of Beriberi Community in Ashaiman and Tema, urged government to ensure that the area called Community 21 is not possessed by certain people in government under the pretext of giving it to the Free Zones Board for the construction staff bungalows.
He described the action of the unnamed persons as unfortunate, stressing that it was happening at a time when Ashaiman lacked certain vital institutions.
He told the press conference that the Ashaiman Circuit, the main police station, the Fire Service, the Ashaiman branch of Ghana Post and a few other government institutions operated in rented buildings, questioning the rational behind the release of the said land to FZB.
“We are so much disappointed in the people behind this move at a time when Ashaiman is experiencing a rapid rise in population. One would have thought that lands such as Community 21 which sit right here in Ashaiman would have been released to our Municipal Assembly for the construction of some of these key facilities which we lack,” the Beriberi chief remarked.
He revealed that the area’s market is unable to accommodate market women who ply their trade and added that the construction of the structures by ASHMA will help get the hawkers off the streets.
The situation at the main market is so bad it takes motorists about 45 minutes to complete a journey that could have been done under five minutes, he noted.
He stated that the government cannot claim to be unaware of the situation since some members of the leadership of the area held talks with E. T. Mensah, Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, who requested time to enable them address the problem.
He was unhappy with the reaction of the said ministers, adding, if we sympathized with the ruling government during the last elections, it did not mean that we lost our heads.
He said the people of Ashaiman had been neglected for far too long and called for a change, pointing out that they should also be given a fair share of the national cake.
Concluding, he mentioned that in as much as they cannot threaten the president and his government over the land, they will collectively boycott the 2012 general elections if the authorities fail to release the land to them.
Razak Mardorgyz Abubakar, Ashaiman
