Residents of the Brekusu-Kwabenya enclave in the Greater Accra Region have staged a sustained protest against the deplorable state of roads within their community, expressing significant concerns regarding their health, economic stability, vehicle security, and access to essential services. The demonstration, which began early this morning, has drawn considerable attention to the deteriorating infrastructure and the impact it’s having on the lives of residents.
The protesters, numbering over 100, gathered on the affected road, placards bearing messages including ‘Fix Our Road,’ ‘Save Our Health, Protect Our Livelihood,’ ‘Bad Roads Are Causing Us Our Health,’ and ‘No Child Should Suffer to Get to School,’ collectively demanding an urgent response from the government and relevant authorities to initiate a comprehensive rehabilitation program.
The demonstration commenced with a period of gridlock, with residents gathering to draw attention to the decades-long neglect of the road network. One resident, a 42-year-old who has lived in the Brekusu area for nearly two decades, appealed to the government to intervene directly, stating, ‘I have been here for almost 42 years. I am appealing to the government to come and fix the road for us.’
According to her, the road had remained in a severely poor condition for many years, leaving residents enduring debilitating conditions. ‘We are suffering. When we pick passengers, and they get there, the cars don’t want to go again,’ she said, emphasizing the frustration caused by the lack of maintenance.
Another resident, Bright, a 30-year-old, questioned claims that a contractor had been assigned to work on the road. ‘I have been here for about 30 years. The last time the Roads Minister went to Parliament, he said there was a contractor working on this road. There is no contractor on this road,’ he asserted, highlighting a discrepancy in official statements.
He further stated that residents were frustrated by the amount of dust generated by vehicles using the road, contributing to air pollution. ‘We are very angry. The dust on this road is no joke. The government should come and fix the road for us,’ he said.
Furthermore, residents are concerned about the impact of the road’s condition on their livelihoods. A resident carrying a placard reading ‘Save Our Health, Protect Our Livelihood’ expressed the hardship faced by businesses in the area due to the poor road conditions. ‘My life is very important to me. I’ve worked around the Dome-Kwabenya-Brekusu-Kitase road for about 20 years now, and the road is still the same,’ he said.
Another protester highlighted the problem of vehicle-induced dust, stating that it’s negatively affecting residents’ health. ‘The dust is not good for our health. They try to water it, but it’s not sustainable. The road needs to be fixed,’ he remarked.
The demonstration extended beyond health concerns, encompassing economic hardship and vehicle security. A resident carrying a placard reading ‘Our MP Has Disappointed Us’ expressed frustration with the road’s deteriorating condition, citing difficulties attracting customers to their business. ‘I’m a resident here, and the road is really bad. I’m an agent, and I don’t get customers as I’m supposed to get,’ he said, adding that the road’s poor condition is impacting the viability of businesses in the area.
He also recounted a fatal accident which he attributed to the dangerous road condition, highlighting that a lady who was walking by the roadside was hit by a car because of the potholes. Another car was dodging potholes, and unfortunately, he ran into the lady, and she died,” he said, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate road repairs.
He urged the government and the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya to intervene and address the situation, advocating for immediate work to begin and completion of the road by the end of the year. He further called on the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Elikplim Akurugu, and other stakeholders to take responsibility for the issue.
The protesters emphasized that the demonstration serves as a crucial signal to the government and the MP, stressing the importance of immediate action to alleviate the residents’ suffering and restore the road’s functionality.
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Source: MyJoyOnline
