Ashaiman Unrests Is Just A Signal…More Is Likely To Happen – Karbo

Former National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Anthony Abayifaa Karbo has hinted that the recent unrest in Ashaiman which led to major road blocking might escalate across the nation if caution is not taken to avoid such trendy.

According to him, construction of the Ashaiman-Tema road has been long overdue since the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) reason for increasing toll price during late President Mahama’s era was to maintain roads.

“That toll money is for road maintenance and building of new roads. One of the justifications late President Mills shoot up toll prices is that, there must be proper account of the money and the money must reflect on our road. That was the main justification.

“…I don’t see why we should be in this mess, Ashaiman issue has brought up an issue of citizen vigilante. Now people have realized that, it is not really about partisan politics, it is about getting their problems solved,” he opined.

Youth of Ashaiman and drivers of the local branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) last Monday blocked the main Ashaiman-Tema Road in protest against delay of contractors to complete the project.

As early as 5 a.m, the rioting youth blocked all the roads leading to the town by burning lorry tyres on the roads.

The rowdy demonstrators accused their Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Alfred Agbesi, and the Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, of neglecting their needs, especially the rehabilitation of the roads.

Anthony Karbo responding to the Ashaiman unrest blamed President Mahama for not fulfilling his promise to construct the Ashaiman-Tema road after promising them during his campaign tour prior to the 2012 elections.

“When the President went there (Ashaiman) during his campaign, there was a grader on site thinking after his (Prez Mahama) campaign, work will commence. So why is it that after the elections, the road is yet to be constructed? What is the work of the District Chief Executive (DCE)? He has to take the initiative to see to it that the road is under construction,” he said.

Speaking on Accra-based Adom FM, Karbo aka ‘Afghanistan’ believes despite Ashaiman been the pacesetters to have orchestrate such protest, other districts are likely to emulate to express their grievances.

“What is happening in Ashaiman numerous the problems of roads across the country and I can tell you that, one this has happened, you can be sure a lot more of such situations will arise because the people will realize that the only way to get government attention to fix those roads is for them to block traffics, for them to agitate and demonstrate. That is the only way government will hear to their plights,” he lamented.