The deteriorating condition of roads leading to the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region has become a major concern for residents, commuters and local authorities.
The roads are ridden with potholes, eroded culverts, dusty pavements, uneven stretches and these are affecting economic activities, education and healthcare delivery in the area.
Some of the affected roads, connecting the municipality are the Dunkwa-On-Offin to Ayanfuri- Kyekyewere and Dunkwa to Obuasi-Kumasi routes. They have become nearly impassable, especially during the rainy season.
Commercial drivers complain about frequent vehicle breakdowns, increased fuel consumption, and prolonged travel time.
“These roads are a death trap. We struggle every day to transport goods to the market and students to school,” Mr Kweku Agyenim, a commercial driver at Dunkwa-on-Offin, said, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), at Dunkwa-on-Offin.
“Our vehicles break down constantly, and passengers are always at risk,” he added.
The situation, he stated, had also affected access to healthcare services. Ambulances transporting emergency cases often get stuck or delayed, putting lives at risk.
Farmers in the area are also counting their losses, as the poor road conditions have made it difficult to send produce to markets in other towns and regions causing financial loss among others.
Nana Adwoa Asante, a trader, shared her frustrations: “Sometimes, we have to carry our goods on our heads to the main road because cars cannot reach the farms and this is slowing down our work and we are pleading with the government to come to our aid and fix the roads to help engage in our daily activities to improve our lives.”
Residents and stakeholders are calling on the government and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to prioritise the rehabilitation of the roads under the “Big Push” initiative being pursued by President Mahama to stimulate growth across various sectors of the economy.
Twelve major roads have been targeted under the initiative, for rehabilitation across the country.
According to community leaders, several petitions had been sent to relevant authorities, but the response had been slow.
Mr George Anane Coleman, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Upper Denkyira East, in an interview with the GNA acknowledged the concerns and pledged the Assembly’s commitment to seek an urgent intervention.
He shared in the plight of the residents, particularly farmers, saying he had witnessed foodstuffs go bad due to the poor nature of the roads.
He pledged to work hard to ensure the issue was resolved.’
The MCE was certain the Big Push initiative would be extended to the Municipality to help resolve some of the challenges facing the area to improve their standard of living.
As the rainy season continues, residents fear the roads may deteriorate further, leading to isolation of several communities if swift action was not taken.
GNA
