Armed robbers to commuters: Pay GHC200 or don’t use the road

• Posted on April 30, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Armed robbers have notified commuters using the three-kilometer stretch of road from Asamang to Effiduase to carry on them GHC200 and above when using that road.

In a written notice two weeks ago, the armed robbers warned commuters not to ply the road if they do not have an amount of GH200 on them.

The Ankobeahene of Asamang in the Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Kwakwa Sarpong, disclosed this to ‘The Finder’ in an interview.

According to him, the notice stated that if a commuter is caught without the amount, they would be assaulted and shot to death.

He was worried that this year alone there have been countless incidents of robbery and attacks on traders who ply their trade on that stretch of road.

Nana Sarpong said about four persons have been shot dead and several others brutalized. He said they have informed appropriate authorities to help tar the road to stop the increasing number of robbery, but to no avail.

He pointed out that due to the dilapidated nature of the road, commuters or traders who ply their trade from Asamang to Effiduase to yeji and Atebubu are frequently attacked by armed robbers, who take undue advantage of the situation.

He added that the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, built by the Asamang community and the SDA Church, also serve as a referral center for patients in and around the district.

Nana Sarpong said residents of surrounding communities no longer seek medical attention from the hospital because of the deplorable state of road, coupled with the robbery attacks.

He said the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Sekyere South Assembly, Edward Kusi Ayarkwa, has made it clear to him that the Asamang to Effiduase road is not under his jurisdiction and so they should rather consult the Sekyere East District Assembly.

The chief also hinted that the DCE for the Sekyere East District Assembly has also replied that people of Asamang do not vote under the district and therefore cannot use the assembly’s fund to construct the road.

The Assemblyman for the Ahenbronum electoral area, Oduro Darko Bright, added that he has presented the issue at assembly meetings but was yet to receive any response.

He cautioned that he cannot look on idle for innocent people to suffer at the hands of criminals, and threatened to advised voters if the road is not given befitting shape.

-The Finder