The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kwahu South in the Eastern Region, Osei Bonsu, has made a dramatic and emotional appeal to the government to urgently construct the Kwahu Adawso–Nketepa road, describing the project as critical to the survival and economic development of communities along the route.
In an unusual demonstration of his commitment to the road project, the MCE reportedly went down on his knees during a radio programme to plead with the government to intervene.
His emotional appeal has intensified calls from traditional authorities, assembly members, and residents for urgent action to rescue communities that have endured years of poor road conditions.
“If the construction of the road will cause me to leave office, I will be happy,” the MCE said, stressing that seeing the road constructed would give him greater satisfaction than remaining in office without being able to address the problem.
The Adawso–Nketepa road serves as a major link between New Oworobong, Kwahu Adawso, Tafo, Akyem Begoro, and the Nketepa Market.
For residents, particularly farmers and fisherfolk, the road is more than a transport route; it is an economic lifeline connecting them to markets and essential services.
The MCE’s appeal comes at a time when the newly installed Chief of New Oworobong, Nana Ampomah Dankwah III, has also placed the road project at the top of his development agenda.
Following his installation over the weekend, Nana Ampomah Dankwah III appealed to the government to urgently rehabilitate the road network linking New Oworobong to neighboring communities.
According to the chief, the poor condition of the roads was adversely affecting the livelihoods of residents and undermining the economic potential of the area.
He said the Adawso–Nketepa road was particularly important because it connected the predominantly farming community to one of the major market centers in the Kwahu South Municipality.
The deteriorating road, he said, had made the transportation of farm produce difficult and expensive while discouraging economic activity.
Nana Ampomah Dankwah III, known in private life as Mr. Kofi Ampomah, was installed following the death of his predecessor, Nana Brifah Dankwah II.
The installation was conducted according to Akan customs and traditions, with chiefs, elders, and residents participating in the ceremony.
Until his enstoolment, Nana Ampomah Dankwah III worked with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) at its licensing office in Accra. He is married with four children, one boy and three girls.
The new chief has also appealed to the government to revive an irrigation facility in the area, which, he said, could help transform agriculture and improve food production.
According to Nana Ampomah Dankwah III, the irrigation infrastructure was established during the administration of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, but had ceased functioning. Its collapse, he said, had deprived farmers of the opportunity to undertake all-year-round farming.
“The people of New Oworobong are predominantly farmers, and we depend heavily on farming. If the roads are fixed and the irrigation facility is revived, it will transform the economic fortunes of the community,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the government to rehabilitate the irrigation system alongside the road project to boost agricultural production, create jobs, and improve household incomes.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, COMMUNITY, JOIN CAMPAIGN
The Assembly Member for the New Oworobong Electoral Area, Abdulai Aziz, has also backed the call for immediate government intervention.
He said the deplorable state of the roads had become a major concern for residents and was negatively affecting economic activities.
The leadership of the New Oworobong Development Association has similarly appealed to the government to prioritize the road project.
According to the association, improving the road would reduce transportation costs, facilitate the movement of farm produce, and help reduce post-harvest losses.
The group has, therefore, called on the government, the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, and other relevant authorities to treat the Adawso–Nketepa road as an urgent development priority.
A COMMUNITY WAITING FOR DEVELOPMENT
New Oworobong has a rich history within the Kwahu traditional area.
The community was among areas affected by the construction of the Akosombo Dam, which resulted in the resettlement of sections of its population.
Historical accounts also identify Nana Dankwah I, a traditional ruler of Oworobong and renowned warrior of the Kwahu Traditional Area, as having played a significant role in the expansion and protection of Kwahu lands, particularly in the Kwahu Afram Plains.
Nana Ampomah Dankwah III is the third successor to Nana Dankwah I in the line of chiefs of Oworobong.
For the people of New Oworobong, however, history and tradition are now being overshadowed by a pressing development challenge. Residents believe that fixing the Adawso–Nketepa road and reviving the irrigation facility would unlock the agricultural potential of the community, improve incomes, and reconnect the area to major commercial centers.
With the MCE now making an unprecedented appeal on his knees, the chief, assembly members, and community leaders are hoping the government will respond to their plea and bring an end to what they describe as years of neglect.
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