News
Omanhene of Nsein rallies chiefs to protest against bad T’di, Agona Nkwanta highway
The Omanhene of Nsein Traditional Area, Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, has lamented over the deterioration of the Takoradi-Agona Nkwanta highway and appealed to groups in the Western Region ‘to speak out’ on the matter.
Awulae Kwame raised these concerns when he addressed a news conference on Sunday, at his Onzayeye farms in the Nzema East municipality, on the state of roads infrastructure, cabinet appointments and the performance of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in the Western Region.
He said “The Western Region has the minerals, the rubber and even oil and gas. Let’s tell them enough is enough.”
Awulae Kwame expressed worry about the state of the Takoradi- Agona Nkwanta highway and complained how recently, commuters plying that route spent about three days before reaching their destinations, due to the breakdown of two haulage trucks.
Others, he said had to detour through long and bushy routes, exposing themselves to high risks.
The Omanhene recalled that at a Regional House of Chiefs meeting the Western Regional Minister, mentioned that the road would be awarded on contract but wondered if it had not been done.
He proposed that the end-of-year meeting of the House would not be about sittings, but rather a visit to the Regional Minister to ask when the Takoradi-Agona Nkwanta road would be awarded on contract.
“I urge all our chiefs (Amanhene) to also meet; If we don’t rise up, the roads will continue to rot even more than what we see. We’ve slept for long, and we will not sleep again,” said the Omanhene.
Roads, he stated, promoted intra-trade and smooth political and administrative functions of government operations.
Awulae Kwame recalled that historically, Ghana operated with a triangular route beginning from the north through Kumasi, Obuasi, Dunkwa to Takoradi while another runs along the coast to join the Kumasi- Nsawam-Accra route.
On cabinet appointments, the Omanhene argued that the 1992 Constitution guaranteed regional balance but noted that Western Region had no minister on it.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Zaeyeye
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has advised Ghanaians living in South Africa to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures ahead of planned protest activities expected on June 30.
In a public advisory issued on Monday, June 29, the Mission urged Ghanaian nationals to prioritise their safety following a deadline announced by a group known as “March and March” and its affiliated organisations, which could lead to demonstrations and disruptions in parts of the country.
The High Commission advised Ghanaians to stay indoors, especially in central business districts, transport hubs, informal trading areas and other locations where protests may occur.
It encouraged them to temporarily close their businesses where necessary and avoid unnecessary movement until the situation stabilises.
The Mission further urged members of the Ghanaian community to avoid confrontations or provocative discussions, including on social media, and to ensure that their passports, residence permits and other identification documents were readily available at all times.
According to the High Commission, emergency telephone lines have been activated to provide assistance and receive reports from Ghanaians who may require help during the period.
It encouraged Ghanaians to remain calm, obey the laws of South Africa and cooperate fully with local authorities.
The Mission advised them to rely only on information from credible official sources and avoid sharing unverified reports or rumours that could create unnecessary panic.
The Ghana High Commission assured the Ghanaian community that it would continue to monitor developments and provide updates when necessary, adding that it remained committed to protecting the welfare of all Ghanaian nationals in South Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s handling of the flooding that hit parts of Accra and surrounding communities on Monday, urging it to move beyond what it described as public relations activities and take decisive action to address the country’s flood challenges.
In a press release issued on June 29, the party expressed sympathy to thousands of people affected by the floods but maintained that the government had failed to respond effectively to the recurring disaster.
The NPP noted that communities including the N1 Highway, Apenkwa, Achimota, Kaneshie, Weija, Spintex, Darkuman Junction and the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange were flooded after heavy rains.
According to the party, these communities have experienced flooding repeatedly over the years, making it necessary for government to adopt long term solutions.
The NPP argued that the current administration had created confusion by splitting responsibility for flood management between the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
It claimed that the arrangement had resulted in poor coordination, with the two ministries competing over responsibilities instead of working together to address the problem.
The party questioned the decision to place Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe in charge of coordinating flood response efforts.
According to the NPP, he does not have the authority to direct ministers, making the current command structure ineffective.
The opposition party further alleged that some anti flood measures announced by the government had either not been implemented or had been poorly executed.
It claimed that delays in the release of funds for flood mitigation programmes had affected ongoing interventions.
The NPP rejected recent comments by President John Dramani Mahama that flooding was partly caused by poor environmental practices and indiscipline among some citizens.
It argued that while public cooperation was important, the government should take responsibility for designing and implementing effective flood management policies.
The party called on the President to place flood management under one ministry, appoint a single minister to lead the response, and provide a public account of the work and spending of the Anti Flood Task Force.
It also urged the government to work closely with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and technical experts to improve land use planning, sanitation management and drainage infrastructure.
The statement, signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, stressed that the party would continue to hold the government accountable while standing with families affected by the floods.
By: Jacob Aggrey
