Farmers in Mangoase and its surrounding communities in the Eastern region are struggling to transport their farm produce to market centers due to poor roads in the area.
Mangoase, Aboabo number 1&2, Tieko, Gbolu Kofi, and Adawso are the food basket Communities in Akuapem North Municipality. Ironically, roads connecting these Communities are mostly deplorable in the Municipality.
The movement of Heavy-duty vehicles carting sand in the area continues to worsen the condition of the main road from Mangoase to Adawso while erosion washes away portions of the road.
Whenever it rains, the road becomes unmotorable.
A visit to the community observed that due to the poor nature of the road, motorbikes, tricycles, and rickety vehicles are the only available means for farmers and traders to transport their goods.
“There are lots of food from this area whenever it rains the road becomes un-motoroble we have to get down to push the cat and tricycle transporting our farm produces. It has makes things difficult” Gladys Brown told mybrytfmonline.com
Another farmer lamented “We supply food to Adawso and Nsawam but the roads are bad. Two weeks ago we had the tricycle which was transporting us crashed which one person was seriously injured I am told her leg will be amputated so we beg them to fix the road for us”.
For these traders, having struggled to transport farm produce on the poor road, there is no convenient place for them to sell hence risk their lives to sell at the roadside while heavy trucks dangerously maneuver to cart sand.
These drivers who endure commuting on the road say they experience frequent breakdowns of their vehicles.
“Adawso to Mangoase road is Very bad especially when you reach 42 communities. The tipper truck drivers have made things worse. It got to a point the road was cut off. A tipper truck driver who attempted to pass crashed with the sand which we used to fill this part enabling vehicles to move”
Another driver said “We have MP Ama Dokua, she comes here in a blue moon. So our MP must do something about our road for us. Whenever it rains we struggle to work. Sometimes we the driver embarked on communal labor to repair the road because it is causing damages to our vehicle. We have been buying spare parts almost every week”
In September 2020, Mangoase Youth Association led by Highlife Musician KK Fosu led a demonstration over the deplorable nature of roads in the area.
Residents keep wondering if the Year of Road mantra by the government is a reality or myth.
“The government says the year of road year .where is the roads. In Akuapem-North nothing is happening meanwhile this is where President comes from. Apart from the asphalt overlay in Akropong Township nothing is happening” a former Assembly Member.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
