POOR ROAD NETWORK

  Cocoa farmers at Pewodie in the Ahafo Ano South District of Ashanti and its environs have repeated their call on the District Assembly and the Department of Feeder Roads to ensure that the poor road network linking particularly farming communities are rehabilitated under the Cocoa Roads Construction Project. 

According to the farmers, the poor road network in the area, which is among the major cocoa producing districts, is a serious setback to cocoa production. The farmers say, now that the rains have set in, it is extremely difficult for vehicles to ply the roads, making evacuation of goods and services from the area to Tepa and Mankranso difficult. 

The Spokesperson for the farmers, Mumuni Issah told GBC’s Garden City Radio that the road from Tepa Junction to Camp-Pewodie and Asikasu has deteriorated to the extent that heavy duty trucks find it difficult to ply the road. He said perishable food items such as plantain and tomatoes are getting rotten, as farmers do not have any means of transporting them to the marketing centres.

 Mr. Mumuni said when government announced the intention to make roads in cocoa growing areas motorable, the farmers were relieved only to realize that the dream of having good access roads is becoming a mirage.

 A visit to the villages by our correspondent confirmed the story. Reacting to the story, the Ahafo Ano South District Chief Executive, Gabriel Barimah said a report has reached his office and assured that the roads shall be rehabilitated as soon as repair works on the Assembly’s grader is completed. 

Mr. Barimah said, as a farmer himself, he appreciates the difficulties the farmers go through especially when the rains set in and appealed to them to exercise restraint.