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UK SOCIAL ACTIVIST CONDEMNS RAS MUBARAK FOR MOCKING BICYCLE USERS IN GHANA

• By EDMOND GYEBI
• November 08, 2018
• 40

A Social Activist and Financial Analyst based in UK, Mr. Eric Amofah has described as “politically immature” for the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak to “ridiculously” ride bicycle to parliament to postulate that all Ghanaians are suffering under the current administration”. 

According to him, “It is very sad for a law maker in Ghana parliament to undermine cycling to work. Riding bicycle is an amazing thing to do, it makes you feel healthy, younger and also live longer”.

In a statement copied to WatchGhana.Com in reaction to our earlier publication under the caption: “MP Ras Mubarak Rides Bicycle to Parliament…”, the UK based Social Activist said that it was wrong for the MP to create the impression that people are riding bicycles to work in Ghana because they cannot afford to buy fuel or are in some kind of economic hardship.

“I think Ras Mubarak travels to other developed countries and he sees how rich, powerful and influential people living in mansions or having big time businesses ride bicycles all day long as their means of transport. Ras’ argument of cycling to work due to higher fuel prices is a misplaced one. He must come again, stop this politics of mediocrity and apologize to the youth, most of whom are riding bicycles to school and work places everyday”. 

Mr. Amofah, a native of Juaso in the Asante-Akim Municipality said that he was expecting the Kumbungu MP to rather use the bicycle riding expedition to encourage more Ghanaians; the young and the aged to prioritise the use of bicycle to keep them healthy and stronger. 


He challenged the MP to redirect his campaign from ultimately making the ruling Government unpopular and focus on encouraging his colleague MPs to learn to use bicycle or public transport to work. He said the MPs could cut down on the use of expensive vehicles and start patronizing public fleets in order to reduce traffic and the pressure on the national purse and also keep them healthy.

“I was happy to hear that an MP in my country has realized the need to park his V8 and ride bicycle to parliament, because some of us always pray for a day like that when Ghanaian MPs will learn from other MPs in advanced countries to cut down cost, but for me to later realized that Ras Mubarak is only making mockery of the Government”.

“It is very unfortunate and disappointing for such an energetic MP to take such trajectory and tag those who use bicycles to work as poor or do not have money to buy fuel due to high fuel prices”. 

Mr. Amofah urged the young and energetic law marker to continue to ride to parliament to work to promote his health rather than accusing the government of high fuel prices. 

Reference 

A study of 264,337 people conducted by cycling UK found that cycling to work is linked with a 45% lower risk of developing cancer, and a 46% lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), compared to commuting by car or public transport. 
Occasional, regular and frequent cyclists contributed a ‘gross cycling product’ of c£3bn to the British economy in 2010.

The 2011 Census in UK found that cycle-commuting was most common among those working in elementary and professional occupations (Census EW); In Britain as a whole, the proportion of cyclists increases with household income ( ATT Statistical Release, 2015).

It is important for our leaders to encourage the citizens to use bicycles more that cars and use public transport where it is safe to do so to work.

It would be recalled that, the Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak on Tuesday November 6, 2018 rode a bicycle to parliament, as a way of drawing Government and the world’s attention to the “growing economic hardship being experienced by the ordinary Ghanaian and the frequent rise in the prices of fuel. 

He told WatchGhana.Com in Accra that, the NPP Government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was insensitive to the plights of the people of Ghana. 

Mr. Mubarak said it will be unfair and insensitive on his part as the representative of the people to cruise in his V8 vehicle whereas the masses go through hardships.

“This is to highlight the rising cost of living in the country. We are experiencing burning injustices, where cost of living keeps going higher and higher. And as a representative of the people, if we can’t be the voice for the voiceless, then we have no business representing the masses”.

 

Source: www.watchghana.com