Kroboland: The youth of Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo have issued a 60-day ultimatum to the government to address the dilapidated condition of the Somanya-Kpong road, a main thoroughfare that has been neglected and left in disrepair. The demand follows a demonstration held last Monday, where scores of Krobo residents took to the streets to voice their grievances over the road's condition.
According to Ghana News Agency, the demonstrators cited years of suffering, persistent dust pollution, and the resultant economic difficulties as reasons for their protest. The event was organized by groups such as Kloma Hengme, Krobo Youth for Development, and activist Adolf Nomo, drawing hundreds of residents who marched through the streets in a call for immediate government action.
The protestors, adorned in red bands and carrying placards with messages like 'We are tired of dust and deception,' 'Fix our road or face our anger,' and 'We can't breathe anymore,' expressed their frustration through war songs and slogans aimed at the government. Mr. Isaac Tamatey Otu, Chairman of Kloma Hengme, emphasized the severe impact on the community, describing the situation as 'a humanitarian crisis.'
The community has faced challenges since work on the road ceased in early 2025 due to a change in government, leaving the contractor unpaid. This stalled progress on a project initially re-awarded to General Construction Ltd. under the Ministry of Roads and Highways. Residents, like Madam Dora Tetteh, have reported severe dust issues, with homes and belongings being overtaken by red dust.
Despite multiple appeals to local authorities, including Municipal Chief Executives and the Eastern Regional Minister, promises for action have not been fulfilled. In response to the protest, a petition was presented to the Municipal Chief Executive for Lower Manya Krobo, Mr. John Atteh Matey, urging presidential intervention and demanding the return of contractors to the site within sixty days, along with temporary relief measures.
Mr. Matey assured the demonstrators that efforts were underway to resume construction shortly, but Assemblymember for Odumase Mampong, Mr. Emmanuel Sir Pee, accused him of disseminating false information, claiming no contract or funding evidence exists.
As the deadline looms, tensions remain high, with demonstrators poised to intensify their protests should the government fail to address their demands for a road that is crucial for the region's connectivity and economic activity. The Somanya-Kpong road, once rebuilt in 2016, has suffered from heavy use by industrial trucks, making it nearly impassable today.