<<Print>>

Members of the Eastern Region House of Chiefs have appealed to the government to rehabilitate the roads in the region. The chiefs proposed to the government to consider re-packaging some of the roads under the building operation, and offer such projects to Ghanaians as means to investment and support the government in the maintenance of the road network in the country. The chiefs explained that the aim of offering road construction to Ghanaians is to ensure that the profit from those investments stay in the country. The chiefs made these pronouncements at a press conference at Suhum, after touring some deplorable roads in the region. The President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin, earlier led a convoy of 33 vehicles of chiefs, members of parliament, and members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union in the region to tour some roads. The roads toured included the Koforidua-Bonsu road, Bonsu Suhum road, Suhum-Asamankese road, Asamankese-Nsawam, and Nsawam-Suhum road. Addressing the press conference, Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin described the Suhum-Asamankese road as very dangerous and in urgent need of attention. He explained that good roads promote economic development, education and good health, and regretted that after over 50 years, the country had not been able to connect the national capital to the second biggest region in the country, either by road or by rail. Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin explained that the action of the chiefs was not motivated by any political party, but the response of the house to public outcries to the chiefs. He acknowledged that many of the roads were deteriorated before the assumption of office of President John Mahama, but said, the central funds for the rehabilitation of those roads are controlled by the President, hence, the appeal go to him. Nana Somuah Nyanpong, Kwahu Asakrakahene, who represented the Kwahu Traditional Council, appealed to people not to politicise the issues raised by the chiefs, because they were not talking politics, but raising serious issues affecting the lives of the people. He said as paramount chiefs, they know what is good for the country, and would not sit down for anybody to push them before acting. Osahene Kwasi Agyemang, Krontihene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, who represented the Akuapemhene, called for urgent rehabilitation of the Domi-Brekusu-Aburi road. He explained that already, the rocks along the Ayi Mensah-Peduase road had started falling, and no one could predict what could happen any moment from now, and so should any bigger rocks fall off and block that route, people could use the Brekusu-Aburi road to get to Peduase and its environs. He also appealed for the rehabilitation of the Aburi-Nsawam road. In all, nine out of the 11 paramount chiefs who form the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs were present at the press conference.