Works and Housing Minister Samuel Atta Akyea appears to have bitten more than he can chew for painting Nima black with the suggestion that the people in the popular Accra slum do not have water closet in their homes.
Addressing parliamentarians Wednesday, the minister said as part of government’s upgrading of slums in Ghana, Nima will be the first to see a facelift, adding “for the first time, we will see the good people of Nima flushing toilets like anybody will do in East Legon”.
But he has received backlash for such a comment which many say is in bad taste and aimed at spiting the people in the area.
Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North Yusif Jajah, has taken exception to the comment and questioned credibility of same.
Speaking on Onua FM morning show Yen Sempa on Thursday hosted by Bright Kwasi Asempa, the MP asked Mr Atta Akyea to justify his comment by explaining to Ghanaians if President Nana Akufo-Addo’s house which is within Nima, does not have water closet toilet facility.
He wondered whether the minister is “saying President Akufo-Addo’s house in Nima does not have flushing toilet? It is not a good comment”.
The MP said they were “worried because it is as if there is no such facility in the area”.
“It is good to build a flushing public toilet in Nima but if you say it is the first time, it is an insult because we have several homes with flushing toilet but he is creating a bad image for Nima” Mr Jajah said.
Mr Jajah wants the minister to withdraw the statement and apologise to the people of Nima because “most public toilets in Nima are flushing toilet”.
He has warned he and the people of Nima “shall deal with him” for disgracing the people of Nima.
He said they will even go to court on the matter if necessary “because this is about people of Nima community and Zongo community in Ghana”.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|3news.com|Ghana