At least three of the country’s political parties are divided in opinion over the decision of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to halt what has become a sporadic demolition of structures in waterlogged areas to rather construct canals.
The parties are the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
While the NPP claims the latest decision by the assembly is part of government’s commitment to the welfare of residents of Accra, the NDC and the CPP say it is a political gimmick by the NPP to avoid turning popular opinion against the party in an electioneering year.
In a panel discussion on Joy FM’s political talk show Cross Fire, propaganda secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Kwetey who described the AMA’s decision as a “political somersault” said the assembly would rather be “pursuing a selective demolition agenda” if it goes ahead with the plan.
The mayor of Accra, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, has publicly stated that his outfit had decided not to demolish buildings sited in waterlogged areas and in water courses as a solution to the recurrent flooding of parts of Accra. Rather, the Assembly would dig canals to redirect water from those places into the major drains.
The commencement of demolition exercises by the assembly around the city in the latter part of last year stirred anxiety among residents whose suburbs had been labeled as waterlogged.
Fiifi Kwetey who hosted the show amid intermittent interruptions from his panelists said government must rather tell Ghanaians the "true reasons behind its latest decision and not hide behind other issues to score political points."
Kosi Dedey, a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) said government had over the years, consistently, deceived the masses by resorting to adhoc measures as though the issues have been resolved.
These comments were, however, rebuffed by Stephen Amoah, an NPP faithful who claimed the assembly’s decision to construct canals was born out of good intentions.
Source: MJFM
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