By Dennis Peprah
Jinijini, (Bono), March 17, GNA – Mr Dickson Kyere Duah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Berekum West Constituency, has called for urgent rehabilitation of the Berekum-Sampa road in the Bono Region to save the lives of users.
The Rehabilitation of the about 119-kilometer stretch would also spur rapid economic growth and development.
Describing it as a lifeline infrastructure, the MP said deplorable condition of the stretch “do not only serve as a death trap but is also impeding economic growth and development”.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Jinijini, the constituency capital, Mr Duah asked Ministry of Roads and Highways to step up measures to reshape the road, which has been in a terrible shape since 2017.
The MP indicated that improved road infrastructure played integral role in spurring the nation’s socio-economic development, trade facilitation and regional integration, saying the Berekum-Sampa road was one of the busiest in the region connecting Ghana and neigbouring Cote d’Ivoire.
“Regrettable current deplorable condition the road hampers economic activities, increases transportation costs, and poses safety risks to commuters”, Mr Duah stated.
As one of the food baskets and cashew production of the nation, the MP indicated that the bad shape of the Berekum-Sampa stretch had slowed down agriculture productivity, worrying that it had affected the movements of farmers and their economic activities.
“Farmers now struggle to transport their food produce from the farm gate to the marketing centers because many commercial drivers in the area not using the road now”, Mr Duah stated.
“In fact, businesses and traders along the corridor face undue hardships due to delays, vehicle breakdowns, and high maintenance costs, which stifle economic growth and discourage investment in the region”, he stated.
Besides trade and commerce, the MP said the road remained essential in accessing healthcare, education, and other essential services, saying the indigenous people mostly relied on the road during emergencies such as medical referrals.
GNA
DEN/CA