By Emmanuel Gamson
Akwidaa (W/R), Aug. 12, GNA – Residents at Akwidaa, a fishing community in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region, have expressed deep concern over the neglect by successive governments to construct the road linking the community to Agona-Nkwanta, the Municipal capital.
According to them, despite several campaign promises their road had been left in very deplorable state for years, a situation seriously impacting their livelihoods.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed during a visit to the community that the road has been riddled with gullies, and deep potholes, making commuting along that stretch uncomfortable, risking lives, and impacting access to healthcare and other essential services in the Municipal capital.
Community members said the situation became worse during rainy days because vehicles could not navigate the deplorable nature of the road, cutting off the community from adjoining areas sometimes.
They said constructing the road would not only ease commuting but also boost trade and tourism potential of the area and improve upon their livelihoods and living conditions.
Mr Kofi Cosmos, Akwidaa Local Vice Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), in an interview with the GNA said the poor state of the road continued to have a negative toll on their livelihoods.
He said: “The poor state of our road is a serious threat to our safety because when you look at how narrow some portions are, and the kind of gullies and potholes on it, then it raises serious safety concerns for us as drivers.
“When you are in Akwidaa and want to go to Agona-Nkwanta and other areas, after 1500 hours you won’t get any commercial means of transport because no driver would want to risk driving on that road when night falls, so in emergency situations around that time, you can imagine what will happen.”
Mr Cosmos noted that apart from that, they spent much of their income on maintenance and repair works on their vehicles.
He appealed to the government through the Assembly to take urgent steps and bring contractors to fix the road.
Madam Gladys Tawiah, a fish processor, expressed similar sentiments, and said the state of the roads was negatively affecting their businesses.
She said: “We go to the landing beach to buy fresh fish for processing, then after that transporting them to the market centre at Agona-Nkwanta becomes a challenge because of the bad road.”
She also appealed to the authorities to construct the road to help bring relief to them when plying that stretch.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Emmanuel Gamson