Bad Roads in the West ... Regional Minister "Sobs'"

The Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has expressed concern about the poor state of roads infrastructure in the region, especially the northern sector, describing the situation as something that goes beyond description and, therefore, needs immediate attention to save the people living in those areas.

The regional minister, who has just returned from a tour of three of the districts in the northern part of the region, summed up his apparent frustration:

"The conditions of the roads were beyond description. The roads dust take your breath away".

The recent heavy and incessant rains as it were have compounded the already bad situation thus exposing weakness in our road strategy.

Addressing a meeting of journalists at his residence in Sekondi last Saturday, the regional minister said the roads have been graded year in and out to the extent that it has virtually hit the water table, thus making it impossible for vehicles to ply it .

He, therefore, appealed to the relevant authorities to come to the aid of the region immediately and also shift emphasis on the present strategy of mere grading in periodic routine maintenance to upgrading of a major portion of the road network to bituminous surface status or at least compacted gravel surface to serve as a fitting recognition to the enormous contribution of our rural communities to the wealth of the country.

For us at the dawn of the 21st century to continue to use the hammock as the only means of conveying the sick and the aged to the nearest health institutions, which is sometimes about 35 miles away through the forest reserves, is unpardonable and must be re-addressed, he said.

Though Western Region is a major contributor to the country's income, its road infrastructure is nothing to write home about.

With the exception of the Axim Junction-Elubo road, Tarkwa-Bogoso-Wassa Akropong road and Bibiani through Awaso to Bekwai and Sefwi Wioso road, the region cannot boast of any good roads.

The road situation is even worst at Wioso, Juabeso and Bia districts which share border with Brong-Ahafo in the north.

The situation is the same at Wassa West, Wassa Amenfi and Wassa Mpohor East.

Even the Agona-Nkwanta to Tarkwa road, which many believe should have been a first class road, considering the fact that Tarkwa is the second capital and biggest town in the region after Sekondi-Takoradi, is presently at its worst state though portions of it has bitumen surface.

The plight of the region appears to have been worsened by the alleged declaration of the three northern regions and central as the most deprived regions in the country by the National Demographic Survey thus shifting donors' attention from the region even though it is one of the deprived in the country.

The regional minister has meanwhile hinted that telephone lines in Takoradi are to be increased from the present 17,000 lines to 45,000 lines and 3,000 lines in Sekondi to 10,000 lines.