Road users in Yilo Krobo are battling the inconveniences of the abandoned rehabilitation works
Correspondence from Eastern Region
Road users in the Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities of the Eastern Region are grappling with the inconveniences caused by the abandoned rehabilitation works on the Trom-Somanya-Kpong and Somanya-Asitey roads, stirring tensions among residents and motorists.
The stalled road projects have drawn widespread concern, including from traditional leaders who have openly voiced their displeasure over the six-month delay since the current government assumed office.
Sipim Narh Tekpertey II of Manya-Aklomuase in the Manya Krobo Traditional Area has joined the chorus of calls for the resumption of works on the road. He warned that failure to resume construction could prompt residents to embark on a demonstration to press home their demands.
Addressing the media, the frustrated traditional leader criticized the deteriorating condition of the roads and issued a stern warning that, if work does not resume immediately, the stretch will be rendered impassable—especially for limestone-hauling trucks.
“We’re giving them up to October, which is our festival month. If they fail to resume work on our roads, the government will not be happy with our actions. We will block all limestone-hauling trucks from using the road, and then they will understand how angry we are,” he declared.
The road serves as a key route for limestone-hauling trucks from nearby Odugblase and other mines, which Sipim Tekpertey blames for accelerating the deterioration of the roads in the area.
He emphasized that the Krobo constituencies—Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo, and Upper Manya Krobo—have consistently supported the NDC, delivering strong numbers in recent and past elections. According to him, the people deserve to benefit from national development projects.
Notable Krobo appointees in the Mahama administration include Seth Terkper, Policy Advisor to the President; COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Inspector General of Police; Rita Akosua Awatey, Eastern Regional Minister; Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Deputy Interior Minister; Gideon Aryeequaye, Acting Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Council; and Nathaniel Tetteh, Director of the National Service Authority – Eastern Region.
Sipim Tekpertey urged chiefs, youth, and road users to demand accountability from their leaders.
Meanwhile, contractors on the Somanya-Kpong and Somanya-Asitey roads have attributed the stalled work to a lack of government funding.
Billy Brigham Deku, Project Manager at Generals Construction Limited, which is handling the two projects, cited the unavailability of funds from the government as the main reason for the delay. He noted that the company has pre-financed the projects so far, but all efforts to secure payments from both past and present administrations have proven futile.
Deku added that the company is also working on other roads in the Eastern Region, including the Mamfe-Larteh, Tafo-Kukurantumi, and Adeiso-Kasoa roads, which are also suffering from a lack of funding.
Rehabilitation of the 11-kilometre Somanya Roundabout-Kpong road began in June 2024 and was expected to be completed within two and a half years. However, contractors warned that ongoing funding delays could derail the work schedule, prolong the completion timeline, and continue to cause hardship for commuters and residents.
Residents and shop owners have expressed concerns about health hazards caused by the excessive dust generated by the stalled construction. Commuters also lament the inconvenience and health risks associated with the situation, which has forced many drivers to avoid the road altogether.
Affected residents have appealed to the government to release the necessary funds to enable the contractors to resume and expedite the work. They are also requesting regular watering of the road to reduce the dust while construction is ongoing.
The reconstruction of the 11-kilometre road became necessary due to its complete deterioration. Originally asphalted in 2016 at a cost of over GHS 30 million under the previous NDC administration, the road began to fail drastically just two years later, prompting the need for a full rehabilitation.
