Deputy National Communication Officer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Godwin Ako Gunn has questioned the Great Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey’s motive behind banning the tricycles popularly referred to as ‘Aboboyaa’ on some major streets of Accra when they, the riders of the ‘Aboboyaa’, have contributed to constructing such roads.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey announced a move to ban the movement of ‘aboboyaa’ on the Tema Motorway to ensure the compliance and enforcement of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180) as well as road regulations for motorbike riders.
But Mr. Ako Gunn who appeared unhappy about the move asked the minister why tricycles will be banned from using the same roads they have contributed to constructing.
“…what alternative routes have been constructed for them? This can only come from an NPP administration,” he asked.
Mr. Ako Gunn stressed that during the 2020 election, the NPP as a party promised to offer better service to tricycle riders, the reason it rubbished the NDC’s campaign to regularise the activities of Okada.
He said, “it is funny, to say the least, during the last elections, I followed how the NPP administration attacked our manifesto promise of regularizing the activities of the Okada riders. I thought they promised them a better life instead of riding? When big men are ‘belly full’, they care less about how people survive in this country. I weep for the attacks on the easy prey; the poor citizens. ”
Below is a full write-up of the deputy communications officer.
“LEAVE THE NDC OUT OF YOUR CARELESS BAN ON ABOBOYAA. MAN MUST SURVIVE
BY: GODWIN AKO GUNN
During the last elections, I followed how the NPP administration attacked the manifesto promise of the regularization of the activities of the Okada riders. I thought they promised them a better life instead of riding?
The Dampare-led police are also now enjoying their wives’ meals with serious exploitation from these riders, with these young men weeping each day to offices of people they perceive can be of help to them retrieve their investment (bikes and tricycles).
When Big men are “belly full”, they care less about how people survive in this country. I weep for the attacks on the easy prey, the poor citizens.
How can tricycles be banned from using the same roads they contributed to constructing. What alternative routes have been constructed for them? This can only come from an NPP administration.
I thought I heard the finance minister say the public sector is full, even graduates don’t have a chance and must be entrepreneurs by hook or crook! Who decides which entrepreneurial venture one embarks on?
When the rich are looking for their comfort and convenience, they care less about the downtrodden.
People with certificates and height are running around the Kumasi sports stadium and the Elwak stadium hopelessly looking for non-existent opportunities to serve in the security services, with the unfortunate stampeding of the weak. All fingers are not equal and man must survive.
Decent ladies are accepting the pain and shame of sleeping with stinking old men for jobs. If we can not bow our heads in shame, let’s not add to their woes.
Young men are losing the love of their lives, sometimes their first love because of their state of joblessness and hopelessness!
No man thinks of painting his house when he has not eaten. Survival is the first instinct of man. So if people are striving hard to make a living by making the rubber hit the road, rather than fraud or crime, let’s be careful the impediments we place their way.
If the riders need education or training before licensing, let’s help them, then ban them.
If we need to expand our roads and create space, let us do it. If our roads need lightening, let’s fix them because we pay for street lights anyway.
If indeed the devil finds work for the idle hands, let those who think they are comfortable not create too many idle hands, it can be a threat to all.
I can’t imagine a government that has abandoned a jute factory it inherited from its predecessor in Adeiso, abandoned the Komenda Sugar Factory and other factories started by the previous administration, stopping young men from making a living differently! What a shame!
The youth are not lazy, neither are they interested in coming to the urban areas to sleep in kiosks or front of shops with mosquitoes feeding on them. Most of them have better sleeping places back home.
If they had the jobs you promised them in their villages, they wouldn’t be under these draconian and inhuman attacks on them.
No one came to Accra to take a view of the ocean. Hardship brought them here!
Hon Minister, the NDC cannot be a part of this. Carry your cross. We are thinking of better days ahead where youth unemployment will be at its barest minimum.
Don’t rub your heartless NPP salt in our wounds. For now, the youth must survive and we will survive !!!
Kun fa Yakun”
Source: A1radioonline.com| 101.1 MHz| Moses Apiah| Ghana
