Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for the immediate resignation of the Member of Parliament for La Dade-Kotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, following the controversial demolition of structures at the La Pleasure Beach.
Addressing aggrieved residents during the “Aaagbe Wo” protest organised to register displeasure over the clearance exercise, Dr Okoe Boye condemned the state’s handling of the situation and accused the administration of orchestrating an overnight raid.
Community members, who marched under the banner of “Gadangme Mli Po” (Ga-Dangme Lives Matter), carried placards with messages such as “The demolition has left us jobless and hopeless” and “H.E. John Mahama, is this what you promised us?” to vent their frustration over lost livelihoods.
The regional chairman targeted his sharpest criticism at the local MP, asserting that her public display of ignorance regarding the night-time operation undermines her position as both a community representative and a government official.
“The MP for this place, the Odododiodioo woman, she came here to cry that she doesn’t do anything about it. In fact, the MP for La, she must resign today. How can you be the chief spokesperson for your people, be a Deputy Minister for Local Government? You sit in government with these people and then they will come and break it and you come and cry that you don’t know anything about it,” he stated.
Dr Okoe Boye maintained that if the lawmaker was genuinely left in the dark about a major security and local governance decision in her own constituency, it reflects a complete lack of regard for her office from within her own political fold.
“If she doesn’t know anything about it, what it means is that her own government don’t respect her. If your government does not respect you, you have no business being in government,” he added.
Recounting the sequence of events leading up to the destruction, the former minister alleged that security personnel and armed forces were deployed under the cover of darkness to execute the clearance without transparent communication.
“You have come in the night using soldiers and national security. You have cleared everything and then when they ask you, you are also not being honest,” he said.
Furthermore, Dr Okoe Boye raised concerns over the legal backdrop of the dispute, alleging that active court proceedings between local beach operators and a nearby hotel were deliberately circumvented by state authorities to force the eviction.
“The hotel went to court with the beach operators and the court was handling the case but because this government is a reckless government, the people took the matter away from court… and then they went to the national security in the night to come and show them where power lies,” he alleged.
The demolition has triggered intense debate within the municipality, with affected traders and local youth demanding compensation and accountability from state authorities for the disruption to their economic activities.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana