The development of the Ghana’s Eastern frontiers was one of the priority projects of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to open up the area which is a food hub.

The improved transportation apart from ensuring easy flow or goods and services will provide easy access to the northern part of the country.

However years of delays have renewed doubts over  government’s commitments to the completion of the Volta regions portions of the road.

The region has two access routes that converge finally towards the eastern corridor.

The Asikuma- Hohoe and Ho- Hohoe are the main entries. While the Ho to Fume road is in a good condition, a journey from Asikuma to Peki through Have and Hohoe are also in deplorable state.

Seven of the slots were awarded to five contractors most of whom later abandoned the project after government failed to meet its payment obligations.

The Asikuma to Have (45km) and Have-Hohoe were awarded to G.S International Developers; Hohoe-Jasikan (27 km) was awarded to Messrs Rollider, Messrs Kanazoe Limited had Dodo-Pepesu to Nkwanta (45km) , Nkwanta-Sibi (45km) to Messrs China Jiangxi Limited and Sibi-Oti Damanko (12km) to First Sky Limited.

Citi News tour of the roads revealed that a part of the Kanazoe stretch of the road, all the other awarded parts are in a deplorable state and contractors were not on site.

Residents told Citi News, Contractors left the site when the new government took office and have since not returned.

They lamented, that aside carnage on the road through motor accidents, the accompanying clouds of dust that emanates from moving vehicles on the road threatens their wellbeing.

They noted that the bad roads were negatively affecting their businesses in the area.

“Our roads are very bad; especially when you are going to Hohoe. Hohoe is where most of us in this area go to buy our wares but drivers are refusing to use the road. Those that agree charge exorbitant fares and divert to Leklebi-Agbesia. It’s very bad” a resident lamented.

They are therefore calling on government to ensure contractors resume work and works completed immediately.

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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post V/R: Residents cry over abandoned Eastern corridor roads appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Bimbilla -Yendi stretch of the eastern corridor was abandoned following chieftaincy clashes in Bimbilla.

The area has been under curfew for some years now following the recurring attacks. The contractors abandoned that section of the road to continue the Yendi-Gusheigu section of the eastern corridor.

The Yendi-Gusheigu road is currently asphalted, while the Bimbilla -Yendi road remains unmotorable.

Two heavy trucks loaded with yam recently got trapped on a diversion at two main bridges left uncompleted close to the Bincheratanga Lepusi stretch.

Motorists could barely ply the road either towards Bimbilla or Yendi.

Some frustrated drivers and passengers who spoke to Citi News lamented the bad nature of the road, and have called on the government to alow the contractors to complete the road.

“The road is terrible especially around the diversion at the two main bridges that are left unattended to here at Bincheratanga and Lepusi. If the contractors do not do something urgent to improve the situation, the road would eventually cut off when the rains come. We are appealing to the contractors to come and put some stones in there so that we can easily cross these areas.”

One of the drivers said “The government should come to our aid. Why is it like we those in this part of the country are neglected. We are begging the president to consider us by ensuring that this road is completed so that we can also feel we are Ghanaians.”

“For me, I want to appeal to the people of Nanung to give peace a chance so that the contractors when they come, they will have peace to be able to work to complete the road. If not because of the chieftaincy conflicts in Bimbilla, I think this road would have been completed by now. I think peace is paramount, we need peace, without peace this is the way we shall continue to suffer from neglect and underdevelopment,” another driver added.

Citi News sources however say that, the contractors are willing and eager to work as they have been given one year to complete the road. But other reports suggest that landowners in the area are preventing the contractors from accessing the quarry sites.

The landowners according to Citi News’ checks are demanding the payment of royalties from the contractors, and as result have blocked the roads to the quarry sites.

Some opinion leaders in the region have therefore scheduled a meeting with the landowners to iron out the issues.

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By: Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira citifmonline.com

The post Don’t leave us out of eastern corridor road – Bimbilla residents appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.