Dodome residents petition government over nine-year road abandonment

Chiefs, elders and concerned residents of the Dodome Traditional Area in the Ho West District of the Volta Region have petitioned the government to urgently rehabilitate and fully coal-tar the Dzolo Gbogame-Dodome to Kpedze road, which they say has remained abandoned for 9 years.

The petition, dated September 3, 2026, was addressed to President John Dramani Mahama, the Minister of Roads and Highways, the Volta Regional Minister, the Ho West MP Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzra and the Ho West District Chief Executive through the Presiding Member.

It followed a peaceful demonstration by residents of communities within the Dodome Traditional Area over the deteriorating condition of the road.

The petitioners described the route as an important link between Dzolo Gbogame, Dodome, Kpedze, Holuta, Ashanti Kpoeta, Anoe, Luvudo, Aflakpe and other neighbouring communities.

They said the government began coal tarring the road in 2015, but the contract was abrogated in 2017, leaving the project incomplete.

According to the residents, the portion of the road that was initially tarred has since deteriorated significantly, with deep potholes, gullies and excessive dust making movement difficult.

They said the situation had severely affected economic activities in the area, particularly farming, as producers struggle to transport their goods to market centres.

"The Dodome Traditional Area contributes significantly to food production in the Ho West District and the Volta Region through cocoa, cassava, maize, vegetables, oranges, timber and plantain," the petition noted.

The residents claimed that more than 60 percent of farm produce goes to waste annually because farmers are unable to transport their goods on time.

They added that, "Some farmers are forced to sell their produce to middlemen at very low prices, while other produce is left to rot by the roadsides or on the farms."

The petitioners also complained about the rising cost of transportation, attributing the increases to high fuel consumption and frequent vehicle breakdowns.

"A trip that should normally cost about GH¢10 now costs between GH¢25 and GH¢30," they stated, adding that fares become even more expensive during the rainy season, when some drivers reportedly refuse to use the route.

They further alleged that vehicles frequently suffer burst tyres, suspension failures and engine overheating, while others become trapped in potholes and mud.

"Some commercial drivers have stopped working on the route because maintaining their vehicles has become unsustainable, leaving residents stranded for hours."

The residents also claimed that some drivers who accept passengers travelling to Dodome collect their fares but abandon them at Dzolo Gbogame, forcing them to walk the remaining distance or pay additional fares.

"Women, children, the elderly and those carrying goods are the most affected," they lamented.

The poor state of the road, they said, also poses serious challenges to healthcare delivery, particularly during emergencies.

"Delays in transporting patients to health facilities in Kpedze and Ho could endanger lives, especially for accident victims, stroke patients and people with severe illnesses," they warned.

According to the petition, health outreach programmes, vaccination exercises and the transportation of medical supplies have also been affected. Pregnant women travelling to Ho for delivery, they said, face difficult journeys, while access to ambulance services is sometimes limited because drivers are reluctant to use the road.

Education has also been affected by the road conditions, with residents saying teachers and pupils struggle to commute, particularly during the rainy season.

"Teachers and pupils struggle to travel to school, especially during the rainy season. Some students arrive late, tired and covered in dust," they said.

They also claimed that visits by school supervisors and WAEC officials had become difficult, which they associated with low enrolment and poor BECE results.

The petitioners further argued that poor road access was making it difficult to attract and retain teachers and health workers.

"Some teachers and nurses reject postings to the area because of poor accessibility and inadequate facilities."

The condition of the road has also affected businesses and social activities, according to the residents. They said traders and shop owners were experiencing low patronage because residents of Kpedze, Ho and other communities were increasingly reluctant to travel to Dodome.

They also raised concerns about the health effects of dust during the dry season.

"During the dry season, the dust affects children, the elderly and asthmatic patients, causing coughing, chest infections and eye irritation," they said.

The residents added that accidents caused by vehicles attempting to avoid potholes had resulted in injuries and deaths.

Beyond the economic and health implications, they said the poor road had contributed to social isolation and youth migration.

"It is difficult for people to attend funerals, weddings, church programmes and festivals in neighbouring communities. Some young people are leaving Dodome for Accra and Kumasi because there are no economic opportunities and investors are not willing to come," the petition stated.

The petitioners also expressed frustration over what they described as repeated unfulfilled assurances concerning the road.

They recalled that during the 2024 campaign, the Ho West MP promised to fix the road if elected, while the District Chief Executive reportedly assured residents during the 2025 Agadzi Festival that the road would be tarred in 2026.

They further said petitions submitted to the District Assembly in 2018, 2020 and 2023 were acknowledged but did not result in action on the road.

The residents are now asking government to include the full rehabilitation and coal tarring of the Dzolo Gbogame-Dodome to Kpedze road in the 2027 Budget Statement, which is expected to be presented in November 2026.

"The petition is not partisan. We believe in government's development agenda, but as taxpayers and citizens, we ask whether we are entitled to benefit from national development," they questioned.

They cited Article 35 Clause 5 of the 1992 Constitution and appealed to President Mahama and the other authorities to treat their demand as an urgent matter.