ASHAIMAN MP INTERVENES IN FEUD (PAGE 14)

The Ashaiman MP, Mr Alfred Agbesi, has intervened in the feud between Ashaiman NDC youth and contractors of the public places of convenience and has consequently applied to the Circuit Court ‘A’ in Tema for an out-of-court settlement.
The agreement was reached between the legal counsels of both parties and the case was accordingly adjourned to March 3, 2009 when they would announce the outcome of the mediation to the court.
Following the illegal takeover of toilets in Ashaiman by some NDC youth, the original contractors who had entered into agreement with the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly and were authorised to operate the toilets on a percentage contract decided to seek redress at the courts.
After one of the sittings of the court on February 10, 2009, the NDC supporters went to the Ashaiman assembly, brutalised some staff and asked them to vacate the offices.
This action was swiftly condemned by the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, who appealed for peace.
He also appealed to the aggrieved groups and the general public who felt strongly against the continuous stay in office of some officials to exercise restraint.
Mr Agbesi dismissed the mode of action of the said group, noting that the staff were public servants who were performing their official duties.
Speaking to the media after intervening in the case at the court, Mr Agbesi said he initially approached the plaintiffs in the suit who were the original operators of the toilets in Ashaiman .
He said “though difficult, after a lengthy discussion and forceful persuasion” and the support of a former MP of Ashaiman, Mr Frank Aheto, they were able to convince the plaintiffs to agree on the out-of-court settlement.
Mr Agbesi said he and Mr Aheto, acting as mediators, would file the outcome of the settlement in court before March 3, 2009.