Obuasi road users 'summon' contractor following inconsistencies

Road users on the Anwiankwanta Obuasi road say the ongoing construction works is a 'disaster' after frequent delays and inconsistencies from the contractor since works commenced last year and have cried out to stakeholders to compel him to be committed to his mandate.

Drivers and passengers who ply the road described the effectiveness of the contractor during the latter part of last year as a political line of influence to get their votes but works have not been the same since the December 7, 2020 polls although structuring the surface is in process but not as expected.

SoireeNews in May last year visited the stretch and witnessed that from Anwiankwanta to Ahwiaa has been applied with asphalt and road markings were not yet attached as a section of spot at the Odaho Bridge was left unattended.

A road grader had levelled the highway from Afoako onwards attesting to the progress government was making to dissolve the deplorability of the highway.

On Monday, February 8, the news team observed how far works on the road have extended and although it was encouraging yet there is still room for improvement based on the complaints of users.

The stretch from Afoako Junction, few minutes to Akrokerri has asphalt applied although one side of the road has been tarred from Asikesu to the latter.

Drivers believe it will take a while to get their challenges on the road dissolved due to the gentle way the contractor is handling the work.

“It’s a disaster for us and we are calling on the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to intervene for the job to speed up by the contractor,” a conductor said.

“His attitude of work towards transforming our road is abysmal and that is not how the situation should be. The deplorable Obuasi road has affected our work especially traders by the side of the road. They have failed to water the road except where they are working which indicates that they care less about road users.

“Nana (President Akufo Addo) should come and witness the lazy job the contractor is doing. Why do drivers always have to go through these situations? Our families are affected due to the low level of sales and that is making life tougher for us. There is no work for youth in this country and accepting to embrace the bus conducting also come with road challenges. We are in deep need.

"The MPs ride in luxurious cars so they feel none of what we go through meanwhile it was our thumb that granted them power. As for the Obuasi to Tarkwa road, I won’t talk about it today.

A passenger complained that the local construction companies are incompetent when it comes to road building and their selfish approach towards government works is very uncommitted. She told that the cause of Ghana’s deplorable road is as a result of giving out contracts to local companies and if the whites are not employed all times, the challenge will never end.

“I always travel to Kumasi every two weeks from Diaso because my husband is stationed there.

This road is one of the challenging ones to ply in Ghana,” passenger disclosed.

“Even the ones constructed have started wearing out and that tells you the mentality of the black man. “From Diaso to Sehwi was stretched by whites and you could see the real quality of road done. Compare that to the ones made by our own people and you will realise that ours is a mess. Dunkwa to Ayamfere is narrow and it’s in a deplorable state in less than three months.

“Our people are incompetent and they don’t care about us. Instead of employing the right and many people for the job, they prefer to keep much of the money and go with a few labourers. You could see from a distance that most of the gutters lack cement and I doubt whether our people are capable of. The whites must be involved in road construction.

Another also pleaded to the contractor to water the dusty side of the road and level dumpy grounds to avoid any accidents.

“During elections, the contractor was very active trying to put the road in shape but after the polls, everything seems relaxed. They don’t water the road and the dust always annoys drivers to overtake heavy-duty cars which easily leads to an accident. We are pleading to the contractor to speed up and even if he is taking time to give us the best road, they should level dump spots to prevent any motor upset.”

At the Akrokerri Junction, traders were painted by the dust which in other ways affected patronage of foodstuff. Food vendors called for the road to be thoroughly watered and speed ramps also to be provided to decelerate cars from running over pedestrians.

“We need speed ramps. There is a training college, senior high schools and people including children do cross every time. If drivers speed a slowed down, accidents could be avoided,” a trader told.