The Co-Chairman of the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has chastized the Greater Accra Region Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, for doing nothing to help in the fight against the coronavirus as far as the spare parts enclave is concerned.

Mr. Samuel Siaw Ampadu said much attention is needed at the spare parts enclave due to quantum of people who troop in and out of that place daily but the regional minister has not even visited them, let alone come to their aid.

The Chairman made these allegations in an interview with Onua TV on how the spare parts hub is adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols.

Mr. Siaw Ampadu said members of the Association have not seen what the Regional Minister is doing as far as COVID-19 and other administrative duties are concerned.

“I don’t know why he is still the regional minister. Every Minister will go round to observe and have firsthand information for themselves on what is happening in the Region but Mr. Ashitey has never done that, which is bad.”

He explained that if the Minister embarks on a tour to business areas such as Abossey Okai, it will afford him the opportunity to task metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to tackle some challenges in assemblies they head but for close to four years now since his appointment, he has never stepped there.

“We had information from his security on the grounds warning all those who do not wear the nose mask nor observe other protocols to be arrested, ask how many people have been arrested?

“People walk freely without observing any of the COVID-19 safety protocols.”

Mr Siaw Ampadu said they are protecting themselves but expected authorities to also augment their efforts.

“If they are not doing this, then we need to tell them in the face that they are not working and the Greater Accra Regional Minister is not working.”

Covid-19 safety protocols

On the adherence to the safety protocols on the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Siaw Ampadu said: “few of the protocols are being observed here in Abossey Okai and it is sad”.

“I will not glorify wrongdoing because I am a chairman. Some benevolent organizations donated some Veronica buckets to be put at vantage points for people to have access to water, but space to place them in front of shops have become a challenge.”



Efforts to address the issue

He said the Association wrote to the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly to intervene for people to adhere to the protocols yet the only thing they did was announcements which was not even effective.

“Social distancing is a challenge here. We have gone round to make announcements but they have not adhered to it. The Municipal Assembly also came to make announcements but still, it’s not working. The laws have been made and the association has its limit. So we wrote to the Assembly to come in and enforce the laws but what they did was just announcements and nothing more”.

Mr. Siaw called on the Assembly to strengthen their enforcement of the protocols in Abossey Okai.