Pressure is mounting on the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Wasa Amenfi East constituency of the Western Region, Akwasi Oppong Fosu over what his constituents describe as lacking “commitment” in tackling developmental issues.
A group calling itself, ‘The Youth for Progressive Change’ based in Wasa Akropong said they are hitting the streets to compel the MP to step down.
Speaking to the DAILY HERITAGE in an interview after issuing a statement of Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the group, Odame Antwi Bosiakoh said, the MP has failed over the years to address their concerns.
Efforts to reach the MP for his reaction failed and calls directed to his phone went unanswered.
“We, the youth for progressive change in the Wasa Amenfi East district will on Tuesday October 13, 2015, stage a massive demonstration against our Member of Parliament, Hon. Akwasi Oppong Fosu at Wasa Akropong for not showing much commitment in addressing our developmental challenges especially our poor rural roads among others.”
According to the group, “Many people have expressed great concerns about the poor state of our roads and also the attitude of our MP since he got our mandate to represent us.
“In as much as he is responsible for making laws as a legislature, he is also responsible for lobbying projects into the constituency to alleviate our people from suffering and hardship.”
According to the group, the Amenfi East has the poorest rural road network in the country and “we have raised this concerns unaccountably in our previous press releases but to no effect.
The roads from Wasa Afransie to Adesu, Wasa Akropong through Saamang-Konkooso to Wasa Kumasi, Nkonya to Nsuaem No.1 & 2, and Nkonya to Dompoase are all not safe for traveling not to talk of Bawdie-Adonoi-Suhyenso to Mansiso, Wasa Saamang through Adanse-Gyedua to Asuoagyakrobo and Wasa Afransie- Abrokyirekrobo-Epom to Wasa Saa roads.”
They said, the roads are generally poor and this affects travelers, businesses and living. “Passengers are made to pay unbearable fares as a result of regular maintenance of faulty cars that plies on these routes.
Also, Our research at the various health institutions suggests that about 10% of pregnant women have been reported to have had miscarriages and also people with emergency case lost their lives for not reaching the hospital in due time as a result of the poor roads.”
They added that although they agree in principle that the activities of illegal galamsey operators have some negative impacts on the environment and society, the effect of an increasing jobless youth in society is more dangerous and non-negotiable.
“Most of our youth who are operating in this industry have gone through the right channels to acquire the necessary licenses and documentations to legally operate but every now and then wahala for them,” they alleged.
<<Print>>