It’s unfortunate that the roads in the Domeabra-Obom Constituency remain in poor condition despite claims of extensive road construction by the government. According to Mr. Richard Nii Aryee, the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Domeabra Obom Constituency, there are no roads in the area to represent the president’s claim of having built the largest number of roads in the Fourth Republic. The situation is particularly concerning for commuters who face daily challenges due to deteriorating road conditions. Let’s hope that efforts are made to address this issue and improve the infrastructure for the benefit of the community.
TV3 News’ visit to the Constituency revealed that during the rainy season, the linking roads within the Domeabra-Obom constituency are very rugged with countless pools of water. This has become a bane for commuters and traders while they go about their daily activities.
We caught up with Issah, the driver of a commercial vehicle that had broken down along the road. He lamented about how frustrating it has become for most drivers to spend huge sums of money repairing their vehicles.
“Most drivers who ply this stretch pay their road worthy fees, yet nothing is being done to fix the roads. My vehicle breaks down often and due to this, I incur so much losses”.
While some commercial drivers are striving to make ends meets on these deplorable roads, others have ceased operating on some of the routes in the constituency.
Due to the limited number of vehicles on the road, inhabitants in communities such as Ashalaja-Kwame Anum, Hobor have resorted to using motorbikes known as Okada.
A resident of Hobor, Bright Akakpo expressed his frustration about how the deplorable road which is affecting economic activities.
‘’The situation worsens during the rainy season. Vehicles always get stuck on the road. People are always pushing vehicles on this bad road and we are all tired about this unfortunate development. This road has been abandoned for a long time and it should be fixed as soon as possible”.
The main stretch that links communities to the major market in the constituency is not in good shape. The market which is located at Hobor is the main trading hub for the constituents. However, the market women say they have had to ply the stretch for years and this has led to the decline in their sales.
‘’The market is always empty. Customers from Kasoa and Amasaman who usually come to the market are no more patronising our produce again. When it rains, they do not come to the market at all because of the bad roads”. They lamented.
Among those who are heavily impacted are school children and pregnant women. Some residents shared how critically ill persons have died while being transported to seek emergency healthcare.
There were accounts from residents who have witnessed people who needed emergency care but due to late arrival at the hospital, they passed on as a result of the delay on those deplorable roads.
Mensah, an inhabitant of Kwame Anum alluded to the fact that pregnant women especially suffer on the bumpy roads while others have had to deliver in vehicles.
‘’I know two pregnant women who died when they were being take to the hospital to receive emergency care. They bled profusely as a result of the deplorable roads. I think we have been silent for quite a long time that is why authorities have abandoned these terrible roads’’.
‘’Political actors have taken us for granted. We would not keep mute again so it would be better if they act now! Mensah further added.
The residents say they want to feel safe on the roads in the Domeabra-Obom Constituency, so they are urgently calling on appropriate authorities and the Government to fulfill their promises to fix the perilous roads.
