Compensate us or ward off road construction - Angry Sokoban residents

The Assemblyman of Sokoban Electoral Area has revealed that a mass demonstration will be staged on Monday, March 29, 2021.

Compensate us or ward off road construction - Angry Sokoban residents
Honourable Kwadwo Boateng, Assemblyman of Sokoban

Residents of Sokoban in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) whose assets have been affected by the ongoing road construction works have called on the Ghanaian government to pay them or ward off works until the right thing is done.

They have further denied reports that links some inhabitants in the Assembly for halting ongoing works due to the government’s failure to compensate them for the soon to be damaged homes.

“Gradually, the road has gotten to Sokoban and there are compensations the government must pay to residents whose houses have been affected and the community at large to pave way for works to continue,” the Assemblyman of Sokoban, Honourable Kwadwo Boateng told.

“There are speculations that we won’t permit the road to be done, that is not the truth. All we ask is for the government to recompense the community and the road can be done.”

23 houses according to the Assemblyman of Sokoban, Honourable Kwadwo Boateng have been affected; 11 in the old town and 12 assets within the new town which have all been assessed by the Ghana Valuation Board yet no response have been communicated to house owners.

He addressed that several plans to demonstrate against the government and contractor have been halted by him, initiated earlier by youths in the community, however, another disappointment by the leaders of the country to pay affected residents within the week will amount to a massive protest where the roads will be blocked to register their discontentment to the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.

“We are not against the progress of this country. The people have realised that if they don’t act, the government will disappoint them hence the demonstrations and plans to block the road on Monday.”

The Assemblymember further advised that Sokoban is a community of New Patriotic Party faithful and leaders plan to deny them their share of the national cake through compensations is discriminating. He, therefore, appealed to the feeder roads, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Mayor, Honourable Osei Assibey Antwi to defend their people in such matters for the progress of the party and the District.

“Sokoban Electoral area is a stronghold of the NPP and this is the time we must benefit from the national cake. This must not be a hindrance for the road works to delay. I have been halting their plans for staging a demo but at this stage, I cannot. Things are getting out of hand.

“We are appealing to the feeder roads, the KMA Boss and the government to play their roles towards the affected residents to give way to the construction of the road.”