The members of Parliament (MPs) for both Afram Plains North and South have lamented about the seeming lack of development in their constituencies.
Addressing the Parliament Press Corps in Parliament yesterday, Madam Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah and Mr. Joseph Appiah Boateng, with the support of other Eastern Regional MPs, noted that there seemed to be a deliberate attempt to deprive the people of Afram Plains off development.
According to Madam Krosbi Mensah, there was an approval of a loan agreement for the construction of a bridge from Ekyi to Amanfrom, the rehabilitation of the Ekyi-Donkorkrom road, as well as the Bunso-Obuoho road.
She noted that somehow, the project had been diverted and the government was considering using the loan for the construction of by-passes on the Accra- Kumasi road, from Osino to Konongo.
“It’s very sad, unfortunate, and disheartening to read from the Ministry of Roads and Highway and the Ministry of Finance, through a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Mr. Asante Bediatuo, calling on Parliament to suspend plans for the construction of the roads per the initial agreement approved by Parliament. Currently, the government is making arrangements to divert the approved funds for the construction of by-passes on the Accra-Kumasi road, from Osino to Konongo…,” she lamented.
She indicated that the situation was very disheartening, considering the reasons the government gave for the construction of the roads.
She said that “the government, whilst bringing the agreement, stated explicitly why we must prioritise the road network in Afram Plains; to provide food security in the country, since most of the cities and towns all get their food supplies from [the] Afram Plains, and also, because the inhabitants of Afram Plains have been cut off from the rest of the country due to physical access, and lastly, lack of connecting roads to other parts of the country, leaving the ferry as the only means of transport.”
Aside the road, the Afram Plains North Legislator also noted that the initial location of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (USED) was suppose to be Donkorkrom, but this was later taken to Bunso.
The MP said these were clear attempts to deprive the people of Afram Plains their fair share of the national cake, adding that the lack of development was worsening the living conditions of the people.
Madam Krosbi said they would not sit down for the government to treat the people of Afram Plains that way, hence called on the inhabitants to rally behind them and for the communities.
“We will like to state categorically to the President, through his ministers, that we will not sit down for this to repeat itself, so we are, therefore, calling on the good people of Afram Plains and sympathizers to rally behind us…”
