Give Us Our Share Of Dev’t …Residents Of Fanteakwa And Upper Manya Districts Tell Gov

Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

Residents within the Fanteakwa and Upper Manya districts in the Eastern Region have observed with deep displeasure what they describe as total neglect by the government.

The two districts, with over 90 percent of residents being farmers, to a large extent can be debatably described as the poorest and under-developed among the 26 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Eastern Region, after Kwahu North.

Poverty, school drop-outs, teenage pregnancy and other social vices have become alternatives for the poor residents in the aforementioned districts.

They cannot boast of good drinking water, as most of them depend on streams and rivers, which they jealously share with animals, and in the case of road networks, the little one talks about it the better.

A recent tour to Dedeso, one of the farming communities in the Fanteakwa District, by the Eastern File uncovered a great deal of social and economic hardships staring the inhabitants in the face.

A first time visitor to Dedeso can either travel from Koforidua, the capital the Eastern Region, through Begoro, the capital of Fanteakwa, or Asesewa, the capital of Upper Manya.

But inquisitiveness and a quest for adventure motivated this reporter to start the journey from Koforidua through Asesewa to the deprived Dedeso community in a commercial vehicle.

The deplorable state of roads in the districts, and living conditions of residents bring tears, sorrow and real taste of economic hardships, as passengers sit five-five instead of three-three, with the front taking four in a mini bus.

Residents of the two districts, who are familiar with the unconventional and lack of respect for passengers and road regulations, sat comfortably in the worn-out bus, but newcomers could not stop questioning and demanding their rights, but had make do with the situation, if they wished to get to their destinations.

Upon reaching a spot between Aboatsem and Yokem, all farming communities in Upper Manya, the passengers were asked to alight to enable the vehicle cross the road, which had a gully across it and later joined at the other side.

As if that was not enough, it would highly embarrassing to wear a white dress when using that section of the road, since it would become red because of the untarred nature.

Interestingly, a bridge that, according to residents, was started in 2006, and links the two districts, has been left to the mercy of the weather.

The drivers who have decided to sacrifice and risk using the road charge the poor farmers exorbitant fares during market days at Dedeso and Asesewa.

Despite the hardworking farmers of Dedeso, poverty and economic hardships can be described as the best companion of the people, following lack of access roads to transport their farm products, and ready markets for their produce.

In order to liberate themselves from this economic slavery, residents of the two districts have called on the government to come to their aid, through the construction of good roads, and markets for their produce, since they were also Ghanaians.

Even though a trip to Dedeso would be a scene to behold, readers who want to experience this challenge should not try it if they do not have their own vehicle, since once you miss the next available vehicle, you would not get another.

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