Residents of Akonsiya, Kwamekrom and surrounding communities near the Kukuo Mountains in the Nanumba South District of the Northern Region have embarked on a communal labour exercise to rehabilitate portions of a badly deteriorated road linking their communities.

The residents, frustrated by what they describe as prolonged delays in addressing the road, have taken it upon themselves to patch some of the most damaged sections to make the route passable.

They say the poor condition of the road has created serious difficulties for residents, particularly farmers, traders, students and motorists who depend on the road for their daily activities.

According to the residents, the road has deteriorated to the extent that movement between the affected communities and other parts of the district has become increasingly difficult, especially during the rainy season.

Deep potholes, muddy sections and damaged portions of the road have reportedly made transportation challenging, with vehicles and motorbikes struggling to navigate some areas. The residents fear that the situation could further worsen if urgent attention is not given to the road, particularly as the communities rely heavily on the route to transport farm produce and access essential services.

The residents have also raised concerns about the impact of the road on access to healthcare. They claim that the poor road condition has contributed to delays in transporting sick and injured persons to health facilities, with two patients reportedly losing their lives while being transported along the stretch.

They are therefore appealing to the government, the Nanumba South District Assembly and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently and undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation of the road rather than relying on temporary community efforts. The communal labour, according to the residents, is only a temporary measure aimed at easing the immediate difficulties faced by road users.

They maintain that the responsibility for providing durable road infrastructure cannot be left entirely to communities, particularly when the road serves several settlements and supports economic and social activities.

The residents are consequently calling for the road to be prioritised for proper rehabilitation, saying a durable solution would improve transportation, enhance access to healthcare and education, support farming and trade, and improve the general living conditions of people in the affected communities.

Source: Asaaseradio