PRESIDENT ORDERS IMMEDIATE REPAIR OF KROBO ROADS

The President has directed the immediate reconstruction of the major roads in the Krobo area to bring relief the people who have over the past months raised concerns over the state of the roads.

The reconstruction work, to be done under a “certificate of emergency”, takes effect from October this year and would run for eighteen (18) months covering the main Odumase-Oterkperlu and the Kpong-Somanya-Akuse roads among others.

This was disclosed by Mr. A. B. R Nuhu, Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) at a meeting held at the Roads and Highways Ministry last week to fashion out the roads map for the construction work.

He said the roads in question formed part of three “Critical Roads” identified in the Eastern Region to receive urgent attention before the end of the year. He indicated that the entire stretch of the roads would be resurfaced and upgraded to take care of the current traffic in the area.

A committee comprising representatives of the Ministry, GHA, the Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly & Traditional Council, Ghana Cement (GHACEM) among others has since been constituted to drive the agenda.

Hot on the heels of agitations by the people over the deplorable state of the road and the attendant negative effects, Nene Kwesitsu Azago, Mahefalor of the Manya Krobo state conveyed the misgiving of the chiefs and people of the area to the president and the other relevant authorities in a letter dated August 24, 2012 prompting the directives from the presidency.

Nene Azago said, “We want to see an end to the suffering our people have had to go through. We welcome the good news and the quick response by the authorities but we expect them to give practical effect to the promise as agreed to save the loss of lives especially as the Ngmayem Festival of the chiefs and people approaches which would expectedly increase traffic on the roads.

The Director of Administration of the Ministry, Mr. Kwadwo O. Adu, who chaired the meeting said, “The state of the roads is critical hence the ministry would work even within its constrained budget to put the road back in shape”.

In an interview, the Strategy & Corporate Affairs Director of GHACEM, Dr. George Dawson-Amoah promised his outfit's full support, as a stakeholder, in repairing the roads, adding “Not only would it address the needs of the indigene but it would facilitate our operations as a business entity”.

Last week, drivers in area said that they were going to embark on a mass boycott of the payment of Road Worthy Toll and other such payments to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) because their vehicles were worthier than the roads in addition to the withdrawal their services as a way of conveying their displeasure to the authorities over the terrible state of roads in the area which have been left unattended to for years despite their persistent complains.