Residents of several cocoa-growing communities in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region are appealing once again to the government to urgently rehabilitate the 71-kilometre Elubo–Enchi road, which has deteriorated severely, compelling commercial vehicles to avoid the stretch.
The residents told journalists that the absence of public transport has left them dependent on motorbikes and tricycles, modes they describe as both expensive and unsafe, particularly in medical emergencies.
“Motorbike riders charge GH₵150 from Jema to Elubo because the road is so bad, yet if the road were in good condition, taxi drivers would take only GH₵20. The riders determine their own prices, and if you refuse to pay, you are simply stranded,” one resident lamented.
Another resident, Janet Kwaw, expressed deep concern about the impact on vulnerable groups, including expectant mothers and the sick.
“The road has made life extremely difficult. Transporting sick or pregnant women is a struggle. We are farmers contributing significantly to the economy, yet our road network remains terrible,” she said.
After years of unfulfilled promises, some residents warned that they may withdraw their support for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2028 elections if no progress is made. “We are pleading with the government to fix the road. If they don’t, we will vote against them in 2028,” one resident cautioned.
Responding to the concerns, the Western North Regional Minister, Wilbert Petty Brentum, assured the communities that the Elubo–Jema–Enchi stretch has been prioritised under the President’s Big Push initiative.
“We have managed to secure five major roads under the Big Push, and Elubo to Jema to Enchi is one of them. The President has emphasised it, and in the recent budget, the Finance Minister confirmed that once the contract is awarded, the contractor should not take more than two years to complete the work,” he explained.