Tension is mounting among communities along the Bawdie–Asankragwa road in the Western Region, as residents demand urgent action over delays in the completion of the 52-kilometre road project following the reported death of a young girl who allegedly fell into a drain constructed by the contractor.
Some residents have called out the contractor, Asabea Construction, accusing the company of repeatedly abandoning the project despite persistent complaints about the poor condition of the road.
The road links the Amenfi East, Amenfi Central and Amenfi West constituencies, but repeated interruptions to the project have left sections of the road in poor condition, making travel increasingly difficult for motorists and commuters, especially the aged and the sick.
2024
Chiefs and residents in the area say the contractor returned to site ahead of the 2024 general election but abandoned the project again after the polls.
According to them, work resumed following an inspection by the Roads Minister but stalled once more, prompting questions about the contractor’s ability to complete the project.
They called for the termination of the contract and the appointment of another contractor to ensure the road is completed.
“The poor condition of the road has contributed to frequent crashes involving motorists and motorcyclists.”
The District Chief Executive for Amenfi Central, Peter Amponsah, said the situation had become particularly distressing following the death of a young girl who reportedly fell into one of the drains constructed by the contractor.
He said the tragedy had yet to trigger the level of urgency that affected communities had been demanding.
Meanwhile, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, during his tour of the area recently assured residents that the government would take the necessary action to address their concerns and ensure an appropriate decision was taken on the stalled project.
The disappointment
He said he had previously raised concerns about the contractor’s slow pace of work and expressed disappointment that the situation had deteriorated instead of improving.
“Every road project is awarded with the expectation that it will bring relief to the people who use it. However, when residents are dissatisfied with the quality and pace of work, it becomes necessary to take immediate action,” the minister said.
He added that road accidents continued to occur along the stretch, citing the poor drainage works carried out by Asabea Constructions and increased traffic as contributing factors.
The worry
“We continue to record road accidents, with at least one involving a motorbike or car every two weeks.
This is largely due to the poor drainage works carried out by Asabea Constructions,” he said.
The regional minister further noted that Wassa Amenfi Central was yet to see even one kilometre of asphalt road, stressing the urgent need for the project to be completed.
“Here in Wassa Amenfi Central, we have not yet seen even one kilometre of asphalt road, so we urgently need this road to be completed.
We are therefore calling for the contractor to be changed to ensure the project is completed and our lives are protected,” he said.
