Cured lepers storm VRCC over bus

Cured lepers in Ho on Thursday stormed the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) premises to complain about the seizure of a 33-seater bus donated to them by Mrs Dzifa Ativor, Minister of Transport.

They accused the authorities of Ho Polyclinic of seizing the vehicle, compelling Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, Volta Regional Minister, to order that the bus should be brought to the VRCC.

When the bus was brought back, the cured lepers were given a ride by Mr Afotey-Agbo to their community amidst drumming and singing.

Nii Afotey-Agbo handed over the keys to the bus to Togbe Jacob Ezor, Leader of the group, and said “we are in a democratic era, so the views of the people must be respected.”

He promised to donate 10 bags of rice to the community and gave the lepers GHc70 for the payment of outstanding water bill of GH¢61.

Togbe Ezor expressed gratitude to the minister and appealed for the payment of their livelihood empowerment against poverty cash, which have been outstanding for seven months.

Dr Eyram Kpoku, Medical Officer in-charge of the Polyclinic told the Ghana News Agency that the bus was handed over to the Polyclinic on January 13, by Ms Ativor in the presence of one Joyceline Akorfa Orchli, President of the Cured Lepers Foundation.

She said the letter accompanying the bus was addressed to the officer in-charge of the Polyclinic by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.