By Michael Foli Jackidy
Dzodze (V/R), March 11, GNA – Residents of Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region have called on the government to prioritize the rehabilitation of the Ho-Aflao road in the 2025 Budget and Financial Statement.
As the Minister of Finance, Dr Ceasil Ato Baah Forson, prepares to deliver his first budget statement on March 11, 2025, the people of Dzodze say they are eager to hear that the long-neglected Ho-Aflao highway, which runs through their municipality, has been included in the government’s infrastructure plans.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), residents emphasised the urgent need for road improvements to ease transportation difficulties, reduce costs, and boost local businesses.
Madam Rose Akose, a trader in Dzodze, shared her frustration:
“As traders, our biggest challenge is the bad nature of the road. Traveling to Ho for goods is stressful and expensive. If the government can fix the road, it will reduce transport costs and make trading easier for us.”
She explained that the poor state of the road contributed to the high cost of living in the area, as transport fares keep rising, making goods more expensive.
Madam Deladem Herman, another trader, highlighted an additional financial burden—the E-levy.
She explained that due to the bad roads, traders sometimes prefer to order goods remotely using mobile money (MoMo), but the electronic transaction levy (e-levy) makes this option costly.
“If we decide not to travel because of the bad roads and instead ask suppliers to send us goods through MoMo payments, we still face high charges due to the e-levy. The government should remove it completely, and if they do, they should not introduce another tax in its place,” she stressed.
She also expressed concerns about the government’s tendency to scrap one tax only to introduce another, urging policymakers to consider the struggles of ordinary citizens.
The Ho-Aflao road is a critical transportation link for residents, businesses, and travelers in the Volta Region, yet it has remained in poor condition for years.
Several calls for rehabilitation have been made, but residents hope this year’s budget will finally bring good news.
With the 2025 budget announcement approaching, the people of Dzodze eagerly await a commitment from the government to fix their roads and provide relief to traders, commuters, and businesses in the region.
GNA
MA/LAA