By Kamal Ahmed
Somanya (E/R), April 25, GNA – The rehabilitation of the Somanya to Asitey and Kpong road has stalled, leaving the 12-kilometer stretch in a deteriorating state and frustrating residents who had high hopes for improved infrastructure.
Construction on the road, which connects the key towns of Somanya, Asitey, and Kpong in the Eastern Region, commenced in June 2024 with the aim of enhancing transport, commerce, and access to essential services.
However, nearly a year later progress has slowed significantly due to funding constraints.
Residents and commuters had expressed concerns over the dust pollution and poor conditions of the road, which had made travel difficult and affected local businesses.
The contractors working on the road had cited financial difficulties as the primary reason for the delay, noting that despite pre-financing parts of the project, they were yet to receive payments from the government.
Heavy equipment now sits idle, and parts of the road lie half-completed, creating dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Dust clouds and illegal speed ramps constructed by residents to tame growing dust pollution plague daily travel, and local commuters say the situation was worsening.
“It’s very frustrating. We were excited when they started the work. Now, we don’t know what’s happening,” Mr Tamatey Ebenezer, a taxi driver who uses the route daily told the Ghana News Agency.
He said the dust was unbearable, and when it rained, the potholes turn into trenches.
Mr Billy Brigham Deku, the Project Manager at Generals Construction Limited, the company in charge of the rehabilitation, said the delay stemmed from non-payment by the government.
“The company is currently waiting for funds from authorities to expedite progress of work,” he said, adding that the firm had largely pre-financed the project.
“We’ve done a lot of work for which we haven’t been paid. Even on this road, we haven’t received any money yet. Our previous projects also remain unpaid, and now we are overwhelmed by loans and operational costs,” he stated.
Mr Deku further revealed that other projects under their care, including roads in Kasoa, Tafo-Kukuruntumi, Adeiso, and Mamfe-Larteh, have also stalled due to similar funding issues.
Despite the challenges, work had not completely stopped. “We are still working, but at a very slow pace. Without funding, it’s impossible to make meaningful progress,” he insisted.
Originally scheduled for completion within two and a half years, the project’s timeline is now in jeopardy.
The Project Manager warned that continuous delays in disbursement could push the completion date much further, leaving thousands of residents and traders who depend on the road in limbo.
Meanwhile, the people of Somanya, Asitey, and Kpong continue to navigate the deteriorating route with uncertainty.
GNA
DL/CAA