The patience of residents living in and around Teshie and its environs has run out. They are threatening series of demonstration against what they describe as the killer Teshie-Agblizaa-Manet road which has gone from bad to worse.
If the anger of some of the residents is anything to go by the demonstration is likely to be chaotic.
“The only language our leaders understand is demonstration, so we will give them that. The people of Madina went on a demonstration, they got their footbridges. It is time for us to get our roads fixed,” one of the residents said.
“What is the use of voting if the promises made during elections cannot be fulfilled?” another angry resident asked, adding “we will not vote next year if this road is not fixed.”
Background
Several houses, shops were demolished in 2015 on a 7km stretch of tattered road from the Teshie Police Station end of the road to the Manet junction along the Spintex road.
According to the Municipal Engineer, Dr Stephen Nketiah the demolition is to “decongest the terrain to pave way for the construction of the dual carriageway from Teshie Police station junction to Manet Junction on the Spintex Road.”
He said the victims of the demolition exercise had been given prior notice since 2007 with some receiving compensation.
Years after the houses were torn down and compensation paid for the construction of the road, the residents say nothing has happened.
The road continues to deteriorate by the day despite promises made by both the National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic Party governments to fix.
With the rains setting in, the gully-field dusty road has become completely unmotorable with drivers laboring their way on that stretch of road.
On that stretch is the Lekma hospital which serves a good number of residents within the Teshie Manet enclave.
Residents say several pregnant women have suffered miscarriages on their way to the Lekma hospital as a result of the poor state of the road.
The residents say enough is enough and they will no longer look on for
The MP of the area Dr Okoe Boye has not been spared the anger of the residents. Some of them accuse him of doing very little to get the road constructed, an allegation he has been quick to deny.
According to him, he has and is still making all efforts necessary to have the roads constructed.
“In addition to my work as MP, I also offer services at the Lekma hospital and I know what the poor roads are doing to the residents particularly to pregnant women and also to drivers in general.”
He is however unsure when the roads will be constructed since budget has to be released to contractors to complete the job.
Source: Nathan Gadugah
