Traditional Leaders, Residents Unite to Demand Completion of Kwadaso–Atwima Ofoase Road Project

Residents of Denkyemuoso, Atwima Techiman and other surrounding communities in the Ashanti Region have joined forces with traditional leaders to demand the immediate resumption and completion of the long-abandoned Kwadaso–Atwima Ofoase road project, citing serious health, safety and economic concerns.

According to the residents, the current condition of the road has resulted in excessive dust pollution, which has become a major threat to public health. They say continuous exposure to thick dust is causing respiratory infections, heart-related complications and other health challenges, particularly among children, the elderly and traders who spend long hours along the road.

The 15.2-kilometre Kwadaso–Trabuom–Ofoase–Twedie dual carriageway project was awarded in 2018 to Asabea Engineering Limited with the aim of improving transportation and boosting economic activities in the area. However, nearly seven years after the award, the project remains stalled, leaving the road in a deplorable state and residents struggling with its consequences.

A visit to communities along the stretch reveals deep potholes, eroded sections and thick layers of dust that have turned daily travel into a risky exercise. Drivers and transport operators say the poor road condition is damaging their vehicles, forcing them to spend huge sums on frequent repairs. As a result, transport fares have increased, further burdening residents.

The impact on local businesses has also been severe. Many shop owners and traders have closed their businesses due to the persistent dust, while houses, food items and household belongings remain constantly covered in dirt, making living conditions unbearable.

Some residents who spoke in interviews expressed frustration and disappointment over what they described as years of neglect, stressing that the road serves as a vital link between several communities and the Kumasi metropolis. They appealed to government to treat the project as a priority and include it in the national road development plans.

Traditional leaders in the affected areas have equally added their voices to the call for urgent intervention. Nana Wiredu Akokoben III, Denkyemuoso Dikro, and Nana Afriyie Takyi, Atwima Techiman Dikro, said the prolonged delay in completing the road has subjected residents, transport operators and business owners to unnecessary hardship.

They noted that the heavy dust and poor road conditions pose serious health and safety risks, and appealed to government to ensure the swift completion of the road network to restore dignity, safety and economic life to the communities.

The chiefs emphasized that the completion of the Kwadaso–Atwima Ofoase road would not only ease transportation challenges but also promote development, reduce accidents and improve the overall quality of life for residents along the corridor.