By Prince Acquah
Ajumako (C/R), June 13, GNA – Persistent heavy rains, which unusually set-in early in May this year, are posing a significant challenge to the implementation of a Big Push Project in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District of the Central Region.
The pace of work was quite brisk, but the momentum has plummeted considerably in recent weeks after the rains came down continuously, leaving many areas muddy, swampy and slippery, and making it unsafe for some machines to operate.
Owing to the situation, heavy duty equipment, particularly tipper trucks which were seen crisscrossing the district with sand, stones and boulders, are mostly stationary, with a few machines still active.
As promised by the President John Mahama, virtually the entire district has become a construction site as contractors rehabilitate, upgrade and construct both major and minor roads under the Big Push project.
Messrs E-Speedway Construction Limited is undertaking a total of 111-kilometre road rehabilitation, including the Mankessim-Ajumako-Agona Swedru road and Ajumako-Amanfopon road.
Also, Messrs General Construction and Development Limited are rehabilitating the 22.6-kilometre Enyeme-Gomoa Oguaa – Ajumako Techiman road.
When completed, the projects will take a lot of traffic off the main Accra-Takoradi highway and provide shorter routes for commuters traveling to Mankessim, Swedru, Assin Manso, Assin Fosu, Kumasi and other places.
As a largely agrarian district, the projects also present enormous economic opportunities for the people of Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam.
As it stands now, preparatory works are far advanced in most areas, with several routes graded and widened, whilst bridges and drainages have been constructed on some sections, and work is underway on others.
A few weeks ago, residents and commuters were grappling with dust from the constructions but now, they have to deal with mud, slippery roads and potholes as the rains continue to take a toll on the project.
At Baifikrom near Mankessim, the Amissah Okye river has overflowed its banks and reduced many surrounding areas to streams, a situation which could pose significant challenges to contractors working on the project.
The situation is no different at Ajumako Okyeso where the river level continues to rise, flooding its banks after every downpour.
The project manager for the Messrs E-Speedway Construction Limited, confirmed to Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the rains were severely disrupting construction activities, noting that earthworks had been suspended as they required three to four consecutive days of sunshine.
He explained that they were using stones and rocks to reinforce the foundations at swampy areas but noted that the approach was not suitable for all sections of the road.
“The rain is delaying us but if we don’t do it right, it will affect the quality of the road,” he said.
“The level of the Okyeso River is very high now. Last year, I was told it was low, but I don’t know why the rains have come so early,” he added.
Despite the challenges, the Project Mmanager said they were only one per cent behind schedule as preparations were 98 per cent complete and construction was underway.
With more than 100 equipment, over 40 engineers and 268 workers on site, he assured that they would work 24 hours to make up for the lost time when the rains stopped.
With regard to demolition of structures, he noted that the residents had been very cooperative and they had not faced any pushbacks.
“For now, we have removed the temporary structures. The permanent structures have been marked and soon, we will start to do the demolition,” he stated.
The only challenge, he indicated, was the relocation of a god in the middle of the road at Asempenyi Junction for which the people were demanding sheep, and some money to pour libation and perform rituals.
And a misunderstanding between the contractors and the people has stalled the progress of work at that spot along the Ajumako-Mankessim Road.
The project manager expressed E-Speedway’s commitment to delivering a high-quality project using the appropriate materials.
Meanwhile, the expansion of the roads has affected many buildings, makeshift structures and farms along the Mankessim-Ajumako-Swedru Road and some inner communities.
While some owners of affected structures earmarked for demolition are already packing out, others are awaiting further engagements with the contractors and highway authorities to vacate their buildings.
At Ajumako Osedzi, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed that many affected buildings had their roofs taken off, while some had been partially demolished.
Mr Samuel Adom, the Assemblyman for Osedzi-Kyebi-Ntananta Electoral Area, revealed that owners of all affected buildings had been duly compensated, adding that they had been given ample time to vacate their buildings.
“The demolitions are expected because it comes with every major road project. The community needs road and so we did not fight the contractor. All affected residents have been properly compensated,” he told the GNA.
Commending government for the project, he was optimistic that it would transform their local economy, improve livelihoods and reduce rural-urban drift in the community.
However, he appealed to government for a community day secondary school in the area to provide secondary education for the youth in and around the community.
Auntie Adwoa Asawa, a banku seller, lamented the collapse of her banku business after her tent was demolished, saying she was not compensated.
To regain her livelihood, she appealed for capital to restart her business at a different location.
Auntie Ama Takyiwaa, a local snacks (banfo bese) vendor, confirmed that her family had been compensated for the demolition of their building but decried the collapse of their business joints without compensations.
She was hopeful to renew her business life when the roads were completed as their communities would become busier than usual.
She, however, bemoaned the disruption in the cocoa sector which had badly affected their livelihoods, appealing to government to intervene.
Meanwhile, affected homeowners at Ajumako Eshiem are yet to be paid.
Opanyin Kobina Essuman, spokesperson for the affected homeowners, explained that the authorities had assured them that compensations would be paid after the necessary assessment of the affected property.
“For now, they said we can continue to live in our houses,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents of Ajumako Amia remain cut off from the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District for more than a month after a contractor closed all roads into their community to build three bridges at once, leaving no way out.
With no cars or motorbikes able to pass, pregnant women, schoolchildren, and all other residents have been left stranded, while market women watch their goods rot and farm produce go unsold.
The only detour through a neighbouring village is more than ten times longer, and recent rains have turned open pits into dangerous pools that children must cross to get to school.
The community has called on Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Member of Parliament for the area and Finance Minister, to intervene in their situation.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Prince Acquah
E-mail: [email protected]