HEROESNEWSGH The Biggest Gh News Platform
Residents of Sekesua, a farming community near Assesew in the Upper Manya Krobo District have expressed their displeasure and concerns about what they described as an abandoned road network from Aketewiah thru Sekesua to Somuer junction.
The road which was tarred 48 years ago during Dr. Acheampong’s era since 1974 serves many communities such as Aketewiah, Sekesua, Osonson, Breponsu, Sutapong, Kolieter, Sumu3, Takorase, Bormase, and others continues to be in a dilapidated state but the resident says the current state of the road is very devastating and worse of it all.
Following the promise made by H.E the president of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo-Danquah Akuffo Addo in 2016 to construct the road, on 22nd December, 2017 the roads minister Hon. Kwasi Amoako Atta reaffirms government’s commitment to construct the 21 kilometers road from Aketewiah to Somuer junction during the president thank you tour in the Eastern region after the 2016 General elections.
Speaking to some of the residents, they said the plight of the road has badly affected Agriculture and socio economic activities in the area saying it is difficult to even transport patients to Asesewa to access health care because the only means to send sick persons to the hospital is by a motorcycle due to the inability of vehicles to ply the road.
This has compelled the Chiefs and Elders of the Sekesua community to protest against the slow pace of the construction work on the work and therefore calling the government to take firm decisions on the road for them to immediately get releave.
Dademantse For Sekesua also expressed disappointment and dissatisfaction towards the poor construction work going on, on their Road.
However, the assembly member for Sekesua/Bormase electoral area, Hon. Terkpertey Abraham Teye descended heavily on the contractor (Catrol Construction Company Ghana Limited) describing the activities of the contractor as a lackadaisical approach towards the construction of the road hence he together with the chiefs and residents in the area are immediately calling for the abrogation of the contract and repackage to a new contractor.
According to the assembly member, the contract was awarded to Catrol Construction Company Ghana Limited on 31st May, 2018 and work commenced on 28th September, 2018 therefore the 21 kilometers road was supposed to be completed within 18 months that is 27th January, 2020.
He revealed that it been four years since the official commencement of work and nothing has been done on the road and therefore blamed the contractor of not fit to execute the project since per the evidence on the road there is only one weak Excavator, a very weak Grader and one weak Tipper Truck.
He further warned that they are giving the government through the road minister up until October this year and if nothing is done about the Aketewiah to Somuer junction road, they will stage a demonstration against the government.
Meanwhile, Hon. Joseph Sam, the District Chief Executive for Upper Manya Krobo also expressed worried about the approach of the contractor saying through that he confronted the site Engineer and he was assured that work will begin but nothing has been done even though the contractor came to site for a very short while after he had the confrontation with the site Engineer.
He said after he had information that there could be a possible demonstration by the residents of which he is yet to receive a petition, he informed the National Director of Feeder roads and he has been assured of inspection of site visiting of Catrol Construction Company Ghana Limited and they will know the way forward.
The member of parliament for Upper Manya Krobo Hon. Bismark Tetteh Nyarko asked the resident to exercise constraint since the Department of Feeder roads has now given the green light after site inspection with the director of Feeder roads to begin with the concrete work within the next six months to construct all the drains and culvert along the road after which the the construction of the road will follow.
He said the road has a direct impact on the Sekesua market therefore he will seek to it that the road is constructed.
He urged the residents to reconsider their decision to stage a demonstration since abrogation of the contract will worsening their problem because it will be difficult to get a new contractor on site.
Reporting for heroesghnews, Michael Akrofi Peace Fm E/R.
