Riot At Weija

Rioting youths of Weija near Accra yesterday engaged in several hours of destruction of public property and street battles with the police, leading to the shutdown of the main water treatment plant serving the western and central parts of the capital.

The facility serves an estimated 2.5 million consumers in areas including Dansoman, Korle Bu, Awoshie Kaneshie, Malam, Abeka, La Paz, Gbawe, Achimota, Adabraka and Mamprobi.

It took a contingent of 40 riot policemen to suppress the violence, following which the managing director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Mr S. G. O. Lamptey, gave the assurance that work would resume at the treatment plant later in the night.

The company's operations were suspended at around 10 a.m., following a demonstration by residents of the town to demand the rehabilitation of their roads and the provision of other social amenities.

In a press statement signed by the spokesman of the youth, Mr Daniel Quashie, the residents demanded the immediate reconstruction of the three and a half kilometer Weija Junction-Weija road, a health post, a community recreational centre and a well-furnished school block.

Ms Shirley Botchwey, the MP for the area and who is also the deputy minister for information, assured the people that she was in touch with the Ministry of RoadsTransport for the immediate rehabilitation of the road, but added that it would take time for their other demands to be met.

She, however, advised them to use peaceful means to seek redress for their grievances.

Mr Lamptey, on his part, assured the residents that more stand pipes would be constructed in the town in addition to assisting Department of Feeder Roads to rehabilitate the road leading to the Weija town.

The Weija Dzsetse, Ogbedada Boafo Danyina-Nse, assured the MP that the people would stop their demonstration and expressed the hope that her promise would be fulfilled.