An excavator on the site to commence construction works
Construction works on virgin road networks in Ainyinase North, a remote cocoa growing area and opposition NDC’s stronghold in the Ellembelle district of the Western Region, have begun, with the residents now pledging support for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Sod was cut on Monday, September 7, for the commencement of work on the 5.5-kilometre road network stretching from Bonsukrom Junction to Bonsukrom and Kwesikrom, which had been left unattended to for the past 48 years.
According to the contractor, Cephas K Construction, the road will be expanded, filled with culverts, and will be coarse gravelled within the next ten months, with plans to tar it later.
Another 20km network from Sentaso to Asomase through to Prestea Nkwanta is also being constructed by KPS Construction, a mining and road construction company.
Sod cutting for the construction of this road, which will also be completed within two years, was done by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his recent tour to the region.
Visit
During a visit to the site on Monday morning, the contractor said the road would be expanded, tarred and handed over in a year’s time instead of the scheduled two years.
Both projects are being funded by the Ghana National Petroleum Cooperation (GNPC) at approximately GH¢120 million, and brings to 75 the number of virgin road construction works embarked upon by the district assembly in Ainyinase North area in the last three and half years.
To help fast track the construction works, Kwasi Bonzo, the District Chief Executive (DCE), appealed to the chiefs and people not to demand hefty compensation for their cocoa and cassava farms as well as other structures which may be affected during the construction period.
He said demand for such compensations will distract the financier since cost of the projects are extremely high.
Fulfilment of promise
At separate meetings with the chiefs and residents, Mr Bonzo said the projects are fulfillment of his campaign promises to them as NPP’s parliamentary candidate for Ellembelle, and urged them to vote massively for him and President Nana Akufo-Addo to enable them do more for them, adding that “one good term deserves another”.
According to Mr Bonzo, the Ainyinase North area has been a stumbling block to his dream of becoming a Member of Parliament for the past eight years, and hoped that majority of the residents will this time round consider his good works and vote for him.
“Even with my ‘small’ DCE position, I’ve been able to achieve a lot for you. There’s no doubt that I will perform wonders when you push me to Parliament,” he said.
The DCE further expressed optimism that cocoa business and other economic activities in the area will boom, following construction of the road network.
He added that education will also receive a boost in the area, saying teachers who had over the years refused posting to the area will not accept postings there.
Challenges with poor road
Cocoa farmers in Ainyinase North transport their produce to nearby Wassa areas due to poor state of the road.
The main means of transport in Ainyinase North has become “okada”, with riders taking undue advantage of the bad state of the road to charge exorbitant fares.
Although Ainyinase North is an NDC stronghold, the party failed to construct a single kilometre tarred road in the whole area.
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle, is reported to be always sending excavators to the road few months to general elections, to create false impression of ongoing construction works, only to remove the machines immediately after elections.
But DCE Bonzo insists that this is not the NPP style, and has assured the residents that the ongoing construction works will be sustained.
Source: dailystatesman.com.gh/Yaaba Yamikeh
About The Author
