The Awutu Senya West constituency has recently witnessed a clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the construction of a bridge at the Awutu Akomatom community.
According to Paul Aidoo, the constituency chairman of the NPP, the residents of the community requested the construction of a bridge when the NPP’s parliamentary candidate, Eugene Arhin, visited. However, the NDC claims that they also engaged with the community last week regarding the construction of the bridge, and the MP, Gizella Tetteh Agbotui, made commitments in the form of cement to commence its construction this week. This led to a situation where supporters of the NPP’s parliamentary candidate encroached on the area to also commence construction, resulting in a potential escalation of the situation.
The timely intervention of the police prevented the matter from escalating further, but it is evident that there is a dispute over the initiation and commitment to the construction of the bridge.
Both parties have expressed their perspectives on the matter. An NPP supporter stated, “The people would have told us that the NDC had promised to construct the bridge if they had indeed visited and made promises. Gizella Tetteh is the MP, and she has not constructed the bridge for them, but why is she promising to do it now?” On the other hand, an NDC supporter highlighted that “Gizella Tetteh engaged the community of Akomatom in a community durbar and promised to embark on the construction of the bridge. She even gave the community 20 bags of cement, so I don’t know why Eugene Arhin is doing that, knowing very well that Gizella has started.”
It is clear that there is a discrepancy between the two political parties regarding their involvement in and commitment to the construction of the bridge. The situation calls for a transparent and collaborative approach to ensure that the needs of the community are met without causing any further discord.
It is important for all involved parties to engage in constructive dialogue and adhere to proper procedures to address the community's infrastructure needs. Ultimately, the focus should be on serving the best interests of the residents of Awutu Akomatom and promoting unity rather than discord.
-source citinewsroom | curated by Aisha Yakubu | Ghana Crimes
