Former Deputy Communications Minister of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has described the new Madina and Adentan footbridges as “J. B. Danquah Health and fitness Walkway”.
The former minister took to his Facebook and Twitter pages to post about the completion of the disability-friendly footbridges.
Below is his facebook post
However, the Disabled Citizens of Ghana (DCG) in a statement signed by their convener, Kwesi Okyere Darko, have taken exception to Mr Ofosu’s comments, saying they feel insulted by the comments
“We have learned with shock the callous and cold-hearted manner in which some members of the NDC have been indirectly mocking people with disabilities,” Mr Darko noted.
READ ALSO: Massive traffic on Tema Motorway as Dawhenya residents protest over bad roads
“We have learned that social media platforms are awash with comments and opinions from a member of the NDC making a mockery of the disability-friendly footbridge constructed on the Adentan-Madina Highway to facilitate our easy movements,” he said.
Darko has described the actions of Mr Ofosu as inhuman, appalling and has, therefore, demanded an apology from him.
Mr Ofosu wrote: Proposed name for Madina footbridge: JB Danquah Madina-Adenta Health and Fitness Walkway but Mr Darko said people living with disabilities find his comments to be uncouth, irresponsible and unfeelingly insensitive.
“Mr Mahama’s aide holds the view that it is a tragic waste of time and resources for the physically challenged to be given priority, and this, we find to be unfortunate and repugnant,” he noted.
“For reasons we are yet to be introduced to, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu and his friends are questioning the government of the day over the need to construct a footbridge that will serve our interest. To him and his friends, we do not matter in the scheme of things simply because we cannot walk the way they do!” he lamented.
“To this end, we demand an unqualified apology from Felix Kwakye-Ofosu and the leadership of the NDC for sitting aloof while their party members denigrate us over this matter,” he demanded of the NDC.
“It is important for us to tell the NDC that we are as human as they are and would not allow their party surrogates to insult our intelligence,” the statement added.
Government is expected to construct footbridges at six various locations on the Madina-Adentan N4 Highway; Firestone, Madina-Zongo Junction, Redco Junction, Ritz Junction, SDA Junction and the Adenta barrier by April 2019.
This follows a number of pedestrian deaths recorded on that stretch of road, leading to widespread condemnations and demonstrations by residents.
Since the project began in November 2018, only one of the footbridges has been fully completed but the completed footbridge has attracted some attention as some people consider its long-winding nature as problematic.
Source: Adomonline.com/Gertude Otchere