'We are very disappointed in Roads Minister's failure to construct our road' - Nkroful Chief

The Chief of Nkroful in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, Nana Kwasi Kutuah IV has expressed his disappointment in the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta for failing to honour, his promise of constructing the Esiama-Nkroful-Teleku-Bokazo road.

It would be recalled that on November, 6, 2018, the Roads Minister visited the hometown of the first President of Ghana hometown, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and promised to fix the road network linking to the place in two months.

According to him, the state of the road was unacceptable and a disrespect as it is known to be the hometown of first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

He said the road was awarded on contract in 2015 but the project stalled, leaving the road in a very deplorable state.

The Minister, who seemed emotional about the deteriorating nature of the road added that the road should have been completed by now.

He assured that the Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo-led administration would complete the road in the next few months to boost local tourism.

"I am standing in the name of President Akufo-Addo to promise you that the Esiama-Nkroful road will be completed in two months time, Chief I'm promising you", Road Minister vowed.

Mr. Amoako Atta also directed the Ghana Highways to asphalt Nkroful town roads to glorify Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

The eight-kilometre road from Esiama to Nkroful is in a deplorable state and this situation has made movement of goods and people very difficult. 

This road has been in a terrible state for many years despite promises by the previous government to fix it. 

The family of the first President and other users of the road have on many occasions pleaded for some elevation of the stretch, considering that the area attracts tourists. 

The erstwhile NDC government responded to the calls but could only attempt uncompleted works on drainage system. But the contractor after the 2016 general elections left the site for unknown reasons.

Speaking to the media at his palace over the weekend, Nana Kwasi Kutuah IV said the road is in very terrible state adding that anytime it rains, it makes the movement of vehicles very difficult.

He expressed disappointment, "On the 6th of November 2018, Minister for Roads, Mr. Amoako Atta came here to promise us that very soon the road will be constructed by the government and we were hoping that the government would have come and fix it but we have waited for so long but they did not come and fixed it".

The Chief revealed to the media that it took the intervention of Nananom to stop the youth in the area from embarking on demonstration against the government for failing to honour its promise.

"Recently the youth of the town planned to demonstrate against the government but we spoke to them to calm down because we will speak to the government officials and as a result we went to the Roads Minister in Accra to remind him of his promise and he has promised us again that the ministry has been on the road to mark it", he emphasized.



He continued that "He told us that the road construction has been sent to public procurement that very soon the road will be done and my elders and I are hoping that government will fulfill his promise this time around".

He added that "...The road is very important to us and if we look up to them and they fail us again, this time around we and the youth will advise ourselves".

Nana Kwasi Kutuwah IV, has therefore appealed to government as a matter urgency to fix the road for them as a sign of recognition for the first president. 

"In fact nothing shows that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was born in Nkroful, the road network linking to this place is very terrible and what is most painful is that we always as a country celebrate his birthday but nothing has been done in his hometown, we are appealing to this government to come to our aid and fix the road for us", he expressed worries.

Nana Kwasi Kutua IV, said the road from Esiama to Nkroful was a disgrace to Ghana being the birth and original burial place of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

He seized the opportunity to appeal to the government to build a District Hospital at Nkroful, the capital to cater for the health care needs of the people.

Reacting to the issue, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Kwasi Bonzo has appealed to the Chief and his people to remain calm as government is working assiduously to fix the road.

He, therefore, admitted that the road is in a very deplorable state.

“I agree that the road from Esiama to Nkroful is in a deplorable state, but let me assure you that steps are being taken to construct it”, he stressed.