Nyakrom youth demonstrate over abandoned bridge, poor road networks

The youth of Agona Nyakrom in the Central Region have staged a demonstration against the government's failure to address the numerous challenges facing the town. They reported that several petitions sent to the government through the District Assembly—requesting the reconstruction of a bridge, the upgrading of the town's health center, the completion of an astro turf project, and the rehabilitation of road networks—had not been addressed.

To express their displeasure, the youth took to the streets of Nyakrom, clad in red and black, carrying placards with messages such as: "No bridge, no vote," "Health center with only six beds," and "Nyakrom deserves better social amenities." Other placards read: "Males and females sleep in the same ward," "No astro turf, no Akwambo festival," "NPP government has disappointed us," "Fix the bridge," "Complete the astro turf project," and "Fix Nyakrom's town roads."

The demonstrators blocked the main Swedru/Nyakrom road for over seven hours, resulting in heavy traffic and stranded passengers.

Speaking to the media after the demonstration, Mr. Bright Mensah, Public Relations Officer of the Agona Nyakrom Youth Association, said the demonstration was delayed because they were restrained by the town's chiefs. He highlighted the town's lack of adequate healthcare facilities and doctors, noting that the Nyakrom Health Centre had only six beds and that males and females were sleeping together in the same ward.

Mensah mentioned that a native of the town, whose name he did not disclose, began constructing an AstroTurf with his own resources in 2019 but was asked to hand it over to the government for completion—a project that has since been abandoned for five years.

He questioned how the town would discover its football and other sporting talents without the necessary amenities. "It is sad that Nyakrom, being the paramount seat of Agonaman, cannot boast even one kilometer of asphalt-overlaid road. Almost all the town roads have developed potholes," he lamented.

"No political party will be allowed to campaign here if the basic amenities are not provided," he declared.

He urged the authorities to undertake the aforementioned projects to enhance the standard of living in the town and ensure peace.