Huhunya (Eastern Region), April 12, 2024
Drivers and traders plying the Koforidua-Ada to Asesewa road and a section of residents in communities on that stretch in the Yilo and Manya Krobo Districts of the Eastern Region are unhappy with the state of their road networks.
They described the situation (dust emission) as unbearable and threat to their health and economic activities.
The situation is terrible as this writer toured the said route from Koforidua-Ada, Nkurakan, Huhunya, Klo-Agogo, Apesua, Obawale, Oterkporlu, Sikabeng to Asesewa out of curiosity, fact finding and evidence gathering purposes.
The untarred high way connecting these cities, towns and communities has deteriorated, developing into what is best describe as “manholes”, coupled with severe dust emanating from the streets during the dry weather.
Thousands of traders and many cars are always on the deteriorated roads from Monday to Friday to do daily market business at Nkurakan, Akate, Klo-Agogo and Asesewa and others.
Speaking to thefourlens.com news in an interview on Thursday at Huhunya during the visit, residents of some communities, drivers and passengers as well as other commuters expressed worries about the health dangers they are exposed to, as a result of the bad state of the roads.
Mr. Bright Narh, popularly called ‘Anyemi, a driver who mostly ply the Adukrom, Oterkporlu, Asesewa to Nkurakan route said the roads are too dusty in the dry season and becomes muddy to unmotorable extents when it rains.
“We drivers spend our hard worked incomes to repair faults developed on our vehicles due to the nature of the roads”, he said.
According to him, passengers have to put on pullovers or cover their head and faces with clothes to protect themselves from the dust when onboarding vehicles to their destinations during dry seasons.
Madam Amiyoo Afrane, a trader said she has been always buying pain killers and other drugs every day before could go to market the next morning.
The deteriorated road links
The same stretch connect to the Boti and Akaa Water Falls, the Umbrella Rock and other beautiful tourist attraction scenes from Huhunya in the Yilo or Manya Krobo area.
The main road further link towns, cities and villages within the Upper Manya, Lower Manya, Yilo Krobo Municipality, Asuogyaman District, Okere District and Koforidua, the Regional Capital.
Other commuters also connect to families and friends in the Northern and Southern parts of the Volta Region, Tema and other parts of the Greater Accra Region.
Effects On Businesses
During the tour, this writer sighted several shops at Apesua, Kwasi Diaka and Huhunya communities locked up, including fuel stations and spot attendants who have vacated their jobs.
Some shop owners along the road who spoke to this writer, including Mary Tamatey said they were not only inhaling the dust emanating from the road, but it is also collapsing their businesses.
She added operators of roadside food joints, stores, some hairdressing saloons and dressmaking training shops in the area fear health threats, hence vacate their businesses.
Some students of the Apesua Community Senior High School located very close to the dusty Nkurakan-Asesewa road, on condition of anonymity expressed grieve that the dust is affecting their academic activities in addition to their health.
At Nkurakan, Mr. Joseph Lawer, a hardware shop operator at explained added the situation has led to majority of businesses folding up, but have no idea what was causing delay of work on the road.
Mr. Emmanuel Tetteh Kwao, the Assembly member for Nkurakan Central electoral area, when contacted explained the road was awarded to a contractor “about a year ago from the national level and I’m pushing as an Assemblyman to do all things within my capability to ensure the work is done on time”.
“Though I assume Office as new Assembly member just three Months ago, I have submitted my heartfelt report with pictorial and video evidence to Mr. Eric Tetteh, the Municipal Chief Executive and informed him how the road is negatively affecting lives, businesses and properties”.
All attempts by this writer to speak to the contractor and the Municipal Chief Executive was unsuccessful.
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Writer’s email: ttchrietoph1@gmail.com
