Following yesterday’s demonstration by the youth of Manhean and its environs which saw them blocking various sections of the Ablekuma-Afuaman road by setting ablaze lorry tyres, the residents have accused the Municipal Chief Executive for Ga West Municipal Assembly, Nii Lamptey Wilkinson, of stalling the construction of the road.

According to a Unit Committee member of Manhean Electoral Area, Daniel Aryee Aryeetey (aka Shiba Ray), the MCE was deliberately stalling the Ablekuma-Afuaman road project for political expediency.

Another resident, Nii Akwandor, had this to say: “we have information that Mr Wilkinson is deliberately stalling the construction of the road to enable the project travel into the 2020 where he will work to fix it to garner votes in the parliamentary election in the area where he has his eyes on the seat.”

However, Mr Wilkinson speaking on Neat FM in Accra yesterday debunked the allegation that he was behind the delay of the fixing the Ablekuma Curve-Afuaman road.

He explained that what was delaying the project was the non-payment to the contractor working on that stretch of the road.

According to him, the contractor has not been a given a dime since he started the project, assuring that plans were underway to ensure that the current government defrays part of the total amount.

Furthermore, Mr Wilkinson disclosed that another factor contributing to the delay was the redesigning of the road.

“That has brought in its wake new challenges as the original cost has now gone up, the MCE for Ga West indicated.

He admitted that the Ablekuma Curve-Afuaman road was terrible and needed to be fixed.

In this regard, Mr Wilkinson appealed to residents of Manhean, Afuaman, Nsakina and all the areas affected by the deplorable state of the road to exercise restraint that he was working assiduously to have the road fixed.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Amasaman, Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea, was equally not spared either.

The residents lashed out at him for failing to construct and complete road during the erstwhile Mahama administration which period saw the road awarded to a contractor.

However, Hon Laryea stressed that it was about time the central government fixed the Ablekuma Curve-Afuaman road to bring relief to residents in the area.

Meanwhile, the youth have warned that they will continue with their protests throughout this week until they hear something positive from the government.