Is There Any Cake Left?

Perhaps this is not a good time for one to ask for a fair share of the national cake given the state of the nation’s economy-----with ‘some GHc 7 billion of arrears and outstanding payments circumvented by the very public financial management system that was put in place to prevent such occurrences.’

But if this is bad timing the question is when?

Gordon Offin-Amaniampong writes
Governance is like being borrowed money one has to pay at all cost. It is simply reciprocating the people’s gesture. They gave you the mandate and chance to govern. And it’s your time to give them their choice or demand. It’s simply a payback time.

This is how it’s supposed to be, it isn’t whether they voted for you or not. It is every government’s responsibility to provide the citizenry social and other services required of them. Unfortunately, for Ghana the proportional distribution of wealth hasn’t benefited its entire populace. The reason, some governments over the years had reneged on their promises or shirked such avowed responsibility.

And even though the Akufo-Addo administration took the reins of power seven weeks ago, already some people are bearing their teeth. That’s right, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

The chiefs and elders of Agavedzi division of Somey Traditional Area in the Ketu South Municipality whose communities are understood to be sitting at the precipice as a result of tidal waves plan to storm the national capital with their grievances.

Yes, Voltarians are allegedly upset—demanding if you like their pound of flesh. The NDC’s World Bank’ is gone broke as in destruction. . An estimated 700 people have been displaced whilst houses numbering about 200 had been lost over the weekend (Sunday) through the monstrous tidal waves that hit the community.

The chiefs believe if the central government does not I take immediate action to salvage the situation their community would completely be wiped out. This was highlighted at a press briefing on Monday.

It appears the Sunday’s incident has adversely affected the livelihood of residents of the community. They have therefore given the government one month ultimatum to fix the situation or they would join their chiefs to hit the streets of Accra to demand what they called their ‘fair share of the national cake.’

So I say to you Mr. President just as Portia told Antonio: “Take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh...” William Shakespeare’s play--- ‘Merchant of Venice’.

Elsewhere in the capital Accra, the Minister of Works and Housing Samuel Atta Akyea says he will work to end perennial flooding in the city during raining season.

“Bear in mind all the forces of nature are such that we cannot control but we need to find a permanent solution to the problem.’

The master plan is there and I am going to push for the plan to be executed. We cannot be coming here every year as if we are condemned to repeat our mistakes.”

Sunday’s rain caused flooding in some parts of Accra, including the Circle-Odaw area, Alajo and Adabraka. The minister and his team of engineers toured the affected areas on Monday morning to assess the situation.

No doubt, Accra got flooded again. One of its sprawling suburbs--- Adabraka wasn’t spared in the last Sunday’s rainstorm. The Circle area (also known as the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange) near the Odaw River which suffered terrible tragedy in June 2015, took another bout, no casualties were recorded. It is however, understood that a recently-built wall to prevent rainwater from spilling into homes fell on her knees. She couldn’t stand the test of time.

Yet Mr. Atta Akyea had promised Accra’s over 2 million residents that flooding in the city would become a thing of the past.

Has he got it? Does the minister have what it takes to end Accra’s perennial flooding?

The ‘IT’ factor is crucial here. Would he be able to stop littering in our gutters? Would he be able to crack the whip on his engineers? Would he be able to stop the proverbial 15 per cent freebies that usually end up in the pockets of managers of the projects?

Mr. Minister: Can you say no thank you, when the bribers come with their bribes to bribe you? Would you be able to tell the squatters and people who site houses, stores, petro/gas stations and other structures on water ways (with permits or no permits) to stop when they have the backing of the very government you serve?

This is it. This is the solution to Accra’s flooding problem.

Be reminded, Accra’s flood is perennial. Ministers and mayors, chief executives, had come and gone. Promises, assurances and pledges had been made over the years. Still we’re faced with this uphill task.

I wish you nothing but good luck and Godspeed my brother. And may you succeed in your quest to tame the Accra floods.

And did I read it somewhere that the squatters are back at Sodom and Gomorrah?