Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako Atta says government is working to re-assign dismissed persons with disabilities owing to the removal of tollbooths on roads.
He also debunked assertions that officials from his office manhandled physically challenged persons during their protest.
Police in Accra on November 16 arrested some persons with disability who were picketing the Roads and Highways Ministry to demand payment of arrears and reassignments after becoming jobless following the abolition of the road toll collection.
They alleged that some colleagues of theirs, who are political loyalists of the government, have been reassigned, while the rest have remained jobless for the past two years.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament on December 7, Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak demanded that government reassign them immediately.
“…Tollbooth workers with disabilities have been grappling with unemployment leading to severe consequences such as homelessness and the inability to afford basic necessities. Their plight has been exacerbated by the lack of concrete plans to address the challenges posed by the sudden cessation of toll collection,” he continued.
The Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta, in response, indicated that government is taking steps to re-engage the former tollbooth workers.
To this effect, he said there would be a clear statement on how disabled persons in the country would be cared for.
It will not be long at all from now because I am privy to the discussions currently going on and not even limited to those who had the privilege to work in our tollbooth.
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Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
