Residents of Funko and New Amanful communities, as well as drivers plying the route in the Ahanta West Municipality in the Western Region, are appealing to the government to expeditiously reconstruct the almost three-kilometre road to save them from frequent visits to mechanic shops and the daily travails of commuting.
Relating some of their harrowing experiences to Empire News, a lactating mother, Sarah Otto, revealed that she had to relocate during her pregnancy.
“The poor nature of the road made me relocate and put up with my aunty at Kwesimintsim, which is about a 30-minute drive away, so that when my delivery was due, I would not have gambled with my life and that of my unborn baby. Pregnant women who stay at Funko do not get access to transport when their delivery is due, and you may just lose your life. So, for me, I relocated to Kwesimintsim. We heard Second Chance (Philadelphia) wanted to reconstruct the road, but the Assembly said it would have to assume that responsibility, so the money would need to be paid to undertake the reconstruction. I thought in Nigeria individuals can be allowed to construct roads if they have the wherewithal. We have to walk long distances home when it rains,” she worryingly surmised.
A taxi driver, Peter Adinkra, revealed that drivers have to halt operations whenever it rains.
“Immediately it rains, we drivers have to close, and passengers are left stranded. Sometimes pragyia riders will come and ply the road when it rains, but as for us taxis, if you dare, the next moment you will end up in the mechanic shop. We are more than 60 taxis here, but less than 30 are working now, with the rest having ended up in the mechanic shop,” he buttressed.
He further revealed that car owners do not allow their vehicles to ply the route.
“Now, if you have a fairly new car, you need to make it ply the town route, as no car owner will allow his car to ply this route. A colleague of ours had his car seized by the owner when he realised he was plying this route. As for this rainy season, most of our cars will not be plying this route,” he revealed.
Another driver, James, said the challenge will persist until the road is reconstructed.
“People carry huge luggage and walk long distances. Often, the road deteriorates before remedial works are done. During the previous NPP administration, the then MCE, Hon. Agyare, came on the road with some engineers, ostensibly to reconstruct the road, but we do not know what happened after that,” he stated.
A commuter, also named James, wondered why efforts are not being made to reconstruct the road despite the huge investments in the enclave.
“We have the headquarters of Second Chance (Philadelphia Church) and some oil service companies all along the road, but no one is bothered. Funko and New Amanful residents are suffering, and we plead with the duty bearers to come to our aid. My car is even faulty, and I have to go to see the mechanic. With just the little drizzle yesterday, come and have a look at the road; it is impassable,” he revealed.
When reached, the MCE of Ahanta West, Hon. Ebenezer Aidoo, said that due to the rainy season, no remedial works could be undertaken for now and declined to be on record on any medium- to long-term plans to reconstruct the three-kilometre road.
Source: Kwame Malcolm/Empire FM/Takoradi
