Six times Ghanaian communities hit the streets to protest bad roads in 2024

Ghana has witnessed a surge in demonstrations over the poor state of roads, with community members, traditional authorities and road users expressing their frustrations over these developments.

The trend reflects government’s delay in fixing deplorable roads despite assurances that it had earmarked 1,000km roads for construction across the country and 6,000km of roads are expected to be completed by the close of 2024.

The government had selected 81 critical road networks in all the 16 regions, translating into 2,167 km, estimated at a cost of GH¢7.8 billion.

Despite these assurances by the government, residents continue to grapple with bad roads and the situation has led to demonstrations.

GhanaWeb takes a took at some protests which have occurred in the first seven months of the year.

1.

On April 18, 2024 residents of Mallam, along the ‘borla’ road within the Weija-Gbawe Municipality, staged a protest on demanding that the 1km road be asphalted.

The over 100 residents carried placards with messages urging the authorities to fix their roads.

Around a hundred residents marched in protest, guarded by police officers. They carried placards with messages urging the authorities to fix the road, including slogans like “No road, no vote.”

Abel Tetteh, the group’s leader expressed dissatisfaction in the lack of respect shown by local authorities and the failure of assembly members to address their concerns.

2.

On May 13, 2024, the Youth of Agona Nyakrom in the Central Region also staged a demonstration against government’s failure to address the numerous challenges of the town.

They stated that several petitions sent to the government through the district assembly, including the rehabilitation of road networks in the town had not been responded to.

The protestors blocked the main Swedru/Nyakrom Road for over seven hours, a situation that led to heavy vehicular traffic, with passengers stranded.

3.

In July 2024, residents of Community 25, Prampram, Dawhenya, Devtraco and neighbouring communities in the Greater Accra Region, also took to the streets to protest over the poor state of roads in their communities.

The residents said the situation had been worsened due to the onset of the rainy season.

According to them, the road from Kpone Barrier towards Dawhenya had developed deep potholes and it had expanded because rehabilation works on the dualization of the Tema-Aflao Road in 2022 had stalled.

They said the road project forms part of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor connecting five West African countries; Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

The residents, in a petition addressed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, said although the road was a critical artery for businesses and essential services in the nation’s economy and the West African sub-region, it had been neglected, causing heavy vehicular traffic.

4.

In that same month, cargo and commercial drivers together with residents in Kwawu Afram Plains of the Eastern Region staged a demonstration to protest the deteriorating condition of the ferry and the poor road network in the area.

The protesters urged the government to intervene swiftly to address the poor state of the ferry and the bad road conditions from Kwawu Tafo to Donkorkrom.

Joseph Appiah Boateng, the District Chief Executive; and Evans Kyei Ntiri, the Member of Parliament for Kwawu Afram Plains South, received the petition and assured them that the government would respond appropriately, with the DCE promising to undertake rehabilitation of the road from

Kwahu Tafo to Donkorkrom.

5.

In that same month, residents of Adamrobe in the Akuapem South Municipality in the Eastern Region also staged a protest demanding improvements to their deteriorating roads.

The community members stated that their roads have been in disrepair for years, with no action from authorities to rectify the situation.

6.

The last demonstration in the month of July was staged on Thursday, July 29, at Apam in the Central Region.

Angry drivers parked their cars in protest, leaving commuters and passengers stranded due to the non-availability of cars.

Roads were also blocked, preventing other motorists from plying the roads.

According to the drivers, authorities have neglected their roads with no measures being taken.

One of the protesting drivers who spoke with Onua FM, said “Our major problem in Gomoa are the roads, that is why we are demonstrating. We have blocked the roads since 5:30 am and even the chief of the town has been prevented from heading to his palace. This is just a small protest, we will continue with the biggest protest soon.”

Another said “We don’t have any authorities in Gomoa West. The DCE couldn’t construct our roads, all the other authorities have failed us. We are very serious with our protest and we will present our petition to our DCE and the district assembly.

“We are suffering in Gomoa West. Because our leaders didn’t embark on any developmental projects, we are suffering. Especially NPP, NDC, they did not help us in any way for 8 years. None of our roads are asphalted. The government shouldn’t wait for an MP to die before they come to repair the roads. If they don’t do the needful before December, no politician should step foot here to campaign for votes.”

Meanwhile, at a press conference held in Kenyasi, chiefs of Hwidiem in the Asutifi South District, and Kenyasi Number 1 and 2 in the Ahafo Region announced that they will embark on a demonstration on August 6, 2024, if the contractor working on the Hwidiem-Kenyasi Road does not resume work immediately.

The chiefs said they had run out of patience, hence they will embark on a protest if their needs are not met.

Speaking on behalf of the chiefs of the three communities, Nana Agyemang said, “No action has been taken by the government after a recent press conference to highlight the urgent need for the government to take action on the prolonged Hiwdiem-Kenyasi road.”

JKB/AE

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