Minister slams AMA for collecting revenue from Kanda Highway traders
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has flayed the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for allowing the collection of revenue to compromise its responsibility to prevent traders from occupying the shoulders of the Kanda Highway.
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He said the granting of permits to traders to occupy the shoulders of the road, reserved for future expansion of the highway, had paved the way for the people to undertake all manner of illegal activities there, including putting up illegal structures.
“This road is a major ceremonial highway; however, because of revenue, we have allowed filth, stench and lawlessness to be all over the highway,” he stated.
Head-on confrontation
Speaking to journalists during a working visit to the Kanda Highway last Tuesday, Mr Amoako-Attah said, “There is no way we can allow this to go on; we have tolerated the assembly for far too long and we are going to take them head-on.”
The minister, who was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Anthony Karbo, and some officials of the ministry and the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), was at the Kanda Highway to assess the impact of human activities along the shoulders of the road.
Unpleasant sight
The minister and his team were disappointed by the despicable sight of heaps of refuse, roaming cattle, choked drains, kiosks and metal containers and business activities along the stretch.
At several points along the highway, the team could not stand the heavy stench that emanated from cow dung, refuse dumps and choked drains.
Another nuisance that greeted the team was the lawlessness displayed by drivers who parked their vehicles on the pavement along the highway, a situation that compromised the safety of pedestrians.
AMA has no power
Addressing the media after the tour, Mr Amoako-Attah stated that the AMA had no power to give the shoulders of the highway to anybody to undertake any activities.
He hinted about seeking the assistance of the national security to remove all traders along the road.
“Personally, there is a lot of pain in my heart. We travel to the United States of America and Europe where we admire how they manage their streets and cities.
“But back home when you walk along our streets, there is so much insanity and indiscipline, with filth and stench all over,” he stated.
To address the indiscipline along the Kanda Highway, he said, he would seek the support of the Cabinet “to fight the assembly to stop these illegalities”.
The minister also gave an assurance that the government would not deal lightly with people who threw their weight about as “big men” to flout laws and regulations.