The Western Region branch of the Ghana Journalists’ Association (GJA) has served notice of using members’ various media platforms to draw attention to the deteriorating nature of roads in the region.
The Association also said there are other development challenges which must be discussed dispassionately and fearlessly while still upholding professionalism.
This notice was served following the stranding of several passengers at Ewusiejoe on the Agona Nkwanta-Takoradi road for the past three days.
No effort has been made to remove a broken-down truck from the road near the Ewusiejoe bridge.
“We are worried that for the past three days, there has not been any visible and any decisive action taken by authorities including the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly and the Western Regional Coordinating Council,” the Western Region GJA said in a statement on Thursday, October 26.
“Are they overwhelmed by the situation or simply not concerned?” it wondered.
Find the full statement below:
We have witnessed with a great deal of worry, frustration and bemusement how hundreds of travellers have been left stranded, for the past three days, on the Ewusiejoe stretch of the Agona Nkwanta to Takoradi road in the Western Region.
Our members who have visited the scene report that an Ivorian bound cargo truck on Tuesday October 24, 2023 fell into a heavy rut on the road at Ewusiejoe in the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly and could not come out of it. The truck broke down, perhaps, due to the continuous attempts to come out of the rut.
As a result, hundreds of vehicles at both ends of the road have been locked up. Scores of passengers have therefore been left stranded and already some of them have started to beg other commuters for food as they were not expecting to be locked up on the road for days.
This will not be the first time that the bad nature of the Agona Nkwanta to Takoradi road is causing undue vehicular traffic. Only recently, the Ahanta Traditional Council went on a demonstration to protest the bad state of the road.
We are worried that for the past three days, there has not been any visible and any decisive action taken by authorities including the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly and the Western Regional Coordinating Council. Are they overwhelmed by the situation or simply not concerned?
How passengers including mothers with their babies, the old, the young and some sick persons have been able to pass two nights in their buses while being exposed to all manner of dangers is only a miracle.
We are aware that several companies have their operations on the Agona Nkwanta to Takoradi road. What we find difficult to understand is why these companies have not been engaged to help deal with the situation.
We are therefore calling on the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly, the Western Region Coordinating Council and companies on the Takoradi to Agona Nkwanta road to as a matter of necessity work together to address the situation immediately.
It will be unfortunate for lives and properties to be lost before we see any concrete action being taken.
We will also urge government to see what has happened as another call on it by the people of Ahanta West and by extension Western Region to look for a more permanent solution to the Takoradi to Agona Nkwanta Road.
We assure the people of Western Region that we will continue to use our various media houses to keep talking about the deteriorating state of roads, as well as other development challenges in the region, dispassionately and fearlessly while still upholding professionalism.