By Kingsley Mamore
Dambai (O/R), Jan. 10, GNA – The Dambai–Asukawkaw highway in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region has become a deadly stretch, as numerous potholes now make daily travel dangerous.
The “silent killer” potholes, once a minor inconvenience, have now grown into a major public safety threat, claiming lives, damaging vehicles and increasing the risk of accidents along the highway.
A survey by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) identified about 30 potholes along the stretch, highlighting what road users describe as prolonged neglect by the relevant authorities.
Drivers are forced to navigate a hazardous maze of craters, risking collisions, injuries, and fatalities. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and passengers remain the most vulnerable, particularly during poor visibility conditions.
Tragedy struck on June 20, 2025, when a woman and her three children lost their lives in a fatal accident along the highway. The crash, which occurred around 1630 hours between the Abongo and Nwane communities, involved a private Nissan vehicle and a Kia Rhino container truck.
Reports indicated that the driver of the Kia Rhino swerved into the opposite lane while attempting to avoid a pothole, resulting in a head-on collision with the oncoming Nissan vehicle.
The impact was devastating, instantly killing the woman and her three children — one boy and two girls.
In the Krachi East Municipality, where thousands of residents depend on the road for daily commuting, trading and transportation, the deteriorating state of the highway has significantly worsened road safety conditions.
Drivers now have to do more than obey speed limits, watch traffic signs and avoid reckless driving; they must also remain constantly alert for sudden potholes that can appear without warning.
Residents and road users are calling on the Krachi East Municipal Assembly and relevant state agencies to act urgently to rehabilitate the highway and restore it to a safe and reliable route.
They warn that the cost of continued inaction is too high, as lives, livelihoods, and the socio-economic development of the area remain at serious risk.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah /Audrey Dekalu