The Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, Betty Efua Krosbi Mensah, has expressed her disappointment over the government’s plan to re-allocate €350 million meant for the construction of a road and bridge in her constituency. According to the MP, the government intends to use the funds for further construction works on the Accra-Kumasi highway, a move that would negatively affect the food production capacity of the area.
Afram Plains North is one of the major food-producing districts in Ghana. The proposed road and bridge construction would have improved access to markets and facilitated the transportation of goods to other parts of the country. With the government’s decision to re-allocate the funds, the people of Afram Plains North may have to continue to face the challenge of transporting their goods through difficult terrain, which can result in a significant increase in transportation costs.
The Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transport, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, noted that the government recognises the important role that accessibility to road infrastructure plays in poverty reduction, fostering regional integration, and enhancing economic development through income generation activities that are linked to agriculture and other sectors of the economy. However, it appears that the government’s decision to re-allocate the funds may not be in line with these objectives.
The decision to re-allocate the funds highlights the need for better communication and consultation between the government and the MPs representing the affected constituencies. The government should involve the MPs and other relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure that the needs and interests of the people they represent are adequately addressed.
In conclusion, the re-allocation of €350 million meant for the construction of a road and bridge in Afram Plains North is a sad development for the people of the constituency. The decision by the government may negatively affect the food production capacity of the area and result in increased transportation costs. The government should involve the MPs and other stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure that the needs and interests of the people they represent are adequately addressed.
