Politics of Saturday, 28 May 2016
Source: Rainbowradioonline.com
Theophilus Tetteh Chai, Chairman of parliament’s Transport Committee
Parliamentary candidate on the ticket of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), for the Ablekuma Central, Mr. Ebenezer Nii N. Nartey has faulted the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the current Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Theophilus Tetteh Chaie for the struggles and challenges confronting the constituency.
The aspirant in an exclusive interview with Nyankonton Mu Nsem, said residents in the constituency have not received their fair share of the better Ghana agenda promised by the governing NDC.
According to him, the constituency consist of seven electoral areas and are faced with diverse challenges, which the MP has failed to address.
Focusing on Abossey Okai which is one of the country’s business haven consisting of over 20,000-member association of spare parts dealers, the aspirant said, the area lacks access to good roads and poor sanitation. Traders and dealers in Abossey Okai have raised concerns over the poor nature of their roads, a situation they said, is making it extremely difficult for them to transport their wares to their various shops.
In an interview with our reporter Daniel Asuku, the traders noted, they have to hire vehicles to transport their wares from the heavy trucks since they are not able to ply the roads at Abossey Okai.
Business for them is not booming and if care is not taken, some of them may have to fold up due to the difficulty they are facing in doing business.
Mr. Nartey commenting on the concerns raised, he said the NPP when in government, contracted a grant from the World Bank to construct storm drains as part of measures to ensure that the roads last long due to the use of heavy trucks on the roads.
According to him, the project was started up to the Central Mosque area but was halted after the NDC assumed office.
He pledged to continue that project when he he is voted into power while a state of the art parking lounge or a port will also be constructed in the area to ensure easy access to the business zone.
Mr. Ebenezer Nii Narh Nartey said the incompetence of the NDC administration and introduction of ‘killer taxes’ is leading to the collapse of businesses in the constituency especially Abossey Okai, among spare parts dealers.
”The Mahama government has received has just gone down the drain, and into their pockets, with no accountability whatsoever. If they had manage our resources well, businesses should be suffering. And so it tells how incompetent this government is. They cannot this country. They do not deserve a second term.”
On the issue of sanitation, he said he will adopt measures to for the constituency generate its own internal funds to manage sanitation in the area. Ablekuma Central he opined is the most deprived constituency in Ghana as the current MP has disappointed residents
”Personally, I think the current MP has disappointed us. This is not because he is an NDC. He has disappointed us because he is the Chairman of the Select Committee on Roads and Transport in Parliament. Ablekuma Central constituency is the most deprived constituency in Ghana because some of the electoral areas do not have a drainage system. With his position and the amount of revenue generated by the NDC, and his position in Parliament, i think he has disappointed us. The NPP did so well for the constituency before we left office and comparing what the NDC has achieved over the last 8 years, i think they have failed the people.”
Mr. Ebenezer Nii N. Nartey called on residents to vote for change so the NPP will deliver to Ghanaians a first class governance.
”I want to change the face of Ablekuma Central constituency in the area of education, security, health, sanitation and job creation. Vote for change. Do not vote for anyone but Nii N. Nartey and Nana Akufo Addo. We need a residential member of Parliament and not a visiting MP.”