Reports reaching The Herald are that hundreds of spare parts dealers at the Suame Magazine business enclave in Kumasi today, Monday, July 18, 2022, charged at the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, almost beat up.
According to the paper’s sources, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu had to run for his life and hide in the Tarkwa Maakro Ghana Commercial Bank, but the relentless spare parts leaders chased him there and took over the entrance of the bank until a police reinforcement was called in to rescue the situation.
He is being accused of failing to fix the bad roads in the area.
The MP got pelted with pure water and anything the trader found as missiles to be used against him as they hooted at the man who has been in Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since 1996.
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu, had gone to address his constituentes following a similar attack on his vehicle last week, while driving through the area, but his peace effort did not yield the expected result.
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The Majority Leader, who was in the company of his personal security and some NPP executives tried to address the angry traders but they charged on him shouting away! Away!! Awaya!!!. Also with him was the Municipality Chief Executive for the area, Maxwell Ofosu Boakye.
They later chased to the Tarkwa Maakro Ghana Commercial Bank and stood behind the main entrance of the bank until a re-enforcement of police officers was called in to help maintain law and order.
They specifically accused Mr. Mensah-Bonsu of deceiving them that he was going to provide them with an interchange at the Suame Roundabout, and to also fix the deplorable roads in the area; one of the biggest commercial enclaves in the Ashanti Region.
At the time of filing this story, the leadership of the spare parts dealers were selected to meet with Mr. Mensah-Bonsu, somewhere inside the bank. It is not clear what they were discussing.
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu, at the last primaries of NPP faced stiff opposition as he was accused of non-performance.
He is said to have vowed not to go for the Suame parliamentary seat again. But The Herald’s information is that he is aiming at the NPP’s Vice-presidential slot for the 2024 general elections.
Other reports are that the MP had gone to inspect the abandoned Suame highway which the artisans said had claimed one life due to its deteriorated nature.
The artisans are said to have demonstrated against the MP and the government last Friday and blocked the highway for not ensuring that the road was fixed.
They warned of another demonstration today if the contractor does not return to the road to have it fixed.
The contractor has returned to the road which the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs had gone to inspect today.
But the angry artisans upon hearing of the arrival of the MP thronged the highway and started hooting, pelting him with sachets of water, and subsequently chased him away.
The Suame legislator and his entourage had to run and seek protection on top of the storey building at Suame Tarkwa Makro which houses the bank.
