Artisans at the Light Industrial Site in Enchi in the Aowin Municipal Assembly in the Western North Region have called on the government to address their concerns to lessen the burdens on their operations.
They complained of the unavailability of toilet facility, bad roads leading to the site, unpaved floor making it difficult to work when it rains, unavailability of dustbins, lack of potable water and the lack of security among others.
The artisans numbering about 500 including trade masters and apprentices are made up of electricians, mechanics, auto sprayers, electric and gas welders, and brass and tank welders.
Master Kojo Aggrey, one of the mechanics who spoke to the igoghana said though they have reported their challenges to the municipal authority it has failed to come to their aid.
He recounted that before they were removed from the communities and brought to the site, the Assembly promised to pave the grounds, and provide a police station, post office and a clinic but has failed to do as promised, making life there unbearable.
He also lamented that the rate at which they used to get work at their former shops has dwindled even though they cannot blame the Assembly or anybody for the decline in work.
Master Lord Forson, a welder said contrary to the promises made to them before relocation some six (6) years ago, the Assembly has failed to deliver on their promises.
He blamed the dwindling of work on the Assembly’s failure to remove all the artisans from the communities as promised and the unmotorable nature of the roads leading to the site which deter customers from coming to the place.
He, therefore, called on the municipal authority to remove all the artisans left in the communities to create an even distribution of work among them.
Master Forson also bemoaned the situation where workers who get injured while working have to be rushed to the hospital for the lack of a clinic to administer first aid.
He further bemoaned the situation where they have to go into the bush for nature’s call where they sometimes compete with reptiles and called on the Assembly as a matter of urgency to provide them with a decent toilet facility to save the situation.
