The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta yesterday ordered the destruction of an illegal construction undertaken by a private individual at Tema Community 12, in the Tema Metropolis.
The individual was illegally paving the street in front of his residence without the permission of the ministry and city authorities and further blocked access to other users of the road.
His individual act had also prevented the legitimate contractor who had been awarded the contract by the ministry to begin work on the road.
Numerous appeals by the ministry, the Department of Urban Roads and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to the individual to remove the pavement blocks for construction work to commerce fell on deaf ears.
Residents of the area and other road users also mounted several protestations but the individual remained adamant.
The situation therefore forced the sector Minister and his entourage to move to the site and ascertain things for themselves.
The individual, Mr Samuel Opoku Arthur invited to meet the minister but said he was at a meeting.
Mr Amoako-Atta after two-hour wait ordered the demolition of the paved area for the contractor to begin work immediately.
He said the government would not countenance such unruly behaviour.
He entreated individuals who want to undertake such projects or support the government in shaping the country’s roads to first consult the technical teams of the ministry and the assembly before touching the road or have themselves to blame.
“The ministry would resist such acts with all the authority invested in the state, no matter the money that individual has, the protection of the citizenry is paramount,” he added.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
