Lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu has stressed how urgent it is for Madina to receive an infrastrutral facelit including the repair and construction of roads for the consituency.

Mr Sosu noted this in a statement he signed as a private legal practitioner, human rights activist, Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina Constituency, Member of the Appointments Committee, and Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, with background expertise in Economics, Conflict, Security and Peace Studies.

MP Sosu, in his statement, first underlined the importance of the repair and construction of roads, particularly for his constituency. 

"Improved road infrastructure would increase [the] attractiveness of Madina, stimulate economic activities, attract new investments and businesses, which would lead to increased employment opportunities for people leaving in Madina," he said. "Many businesses would locate to Madina and new ones would emerge when our roads get the needed facelift. This would also open inaccessible sites for development and ensure overall development of Madina."

He explained that the purpose of his statement saying: "...it has become necessary for me to raise these concerns so central government through the Ministry of Roads and Highways, and Department of Urban and Feeder Roads can take urgent actions and necessary measures to fix Madina Roads.

"It is indeed deeply sad and disappointing for me first as a Ghanaian, and secondly as representative of the people that I berate the poor nature and state of roads and infrastructure projects in Madina."

The lawmaker cited the 2010 Population and Housing Census, comparing it with that of the recent one of 2021, pointing to the 119% increase in the population of Madina.

"According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the population of Madina was 111,926, with 54,271 males and 57,655 females. However, the recent Population and Housing Census recorded by the Ghana Statistical Service shows a population of 244,676 comprising 120,846 males and 123,830 females, representing an increase of 119%," he revealed.

"This has resulted in increased pressure on available infrastructure," he bemoaned, adding that: "Over the years, the population of Madina has more than doubled, meanwhile available infrastructure remains the same. Thus, there is the need for expansion of social amenities such as electricity, water, and drainage systems to provide the necessary support for the expanded numbers."

Francis-Xavier Sosu said, "In recent years, roads and drainage projects in Madina have stalled despite being awarded on contracts," adding, "It will be recalled that the Government in the 2021 and 2022 Budget Statements declared the Year of Roads and Second Year of Roads, allocating GHS952,587,681 and GHS1,735,272,000 respectively."

"In spite of these, Madina is yet to witness its fair share of developmental projects. From the much-touted One District One Factory (1D1F) to Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ Programme), to One District One Warehouse, and Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Project (IPEP), Madina is yet to see real and meaningful development under this Administration," he charged. 

The humanitarian also highlighted the critical role of "Roads in Madina" linking "goods and persons to various parts of the capital and country," and contributing "meaningfully to national development."

Read the rest of the statment below: