Atimatim New Site Residents Appeal For Urgent Intervention As Road Works Block Emergency Routes.
Residents of Atimatim New Site in the Afigya Kwabre South District of the Ashanti Region have expressed concern over what they describe as poor-quality road construction in their community, alleging that the ongoing project has created serious difficulties for motorists and other road users.
According to the residents, although their persistent calls for improved roads have finally been answered, the construction work appears to fall short of the required standards, raising concerns about the safety and accessibility of roads within the community.
They explained that some inner roads and gutters connecting to the main road have been left out of the project, while bridges constructed along certain routes have obstructed access to roads linking adjoining parts of the community.
The residents said the situation has made it difficult for motorists to access their homes and carry out their daily activities, adding that emergency service providers, including the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service, could struggle to reach affected areas during emergencies.
They warned that the situation could have serious consequences if urgent steps are not taken to address the alleged construction defects and restore access to the affected roads.
Some residents further disclosed that they raised concerns with the contractor when construction of the bridges began but alleged that their complaints were ignored.
In addition to the road access challenges, the residents said the construction works had damaged water pipes supplying the community, leaving some households without water for weeks and disrupting their daily activities.
The prolonged water shortage, they noted, has added to the difficulties confronting residents as they struggle to access basic services while the road construction continues.
Speaking on the matter, the Assemblyman for the Atimatim New Site Electoral Area, Hon. Rev. Jeffrey Annor Acquah, confirmed that residents had repeatedly complained about the situation.
He disclosed that he, together with the District Chief Executive (DCE), had summoned the contractor on several occasions to address the concerns raised by the community, but the efforts had reportedly yielded no satisfactory results.
Rev. Annor Acquah expressed disappointment over what he described as the contractor’s failure to collaborate with the community, insisting that engagement with residents is an important aspect of road construction, particularly when the work directly affects their daily lives.
He said the lack of cooperation had worsened the situation and called on the relevant authorities to intervene before the challenges resulted in a major incident.
The Assemblyman has therefore appealed to the Ashanti Regional Minister, the Director of Urban Roads and other responsible officials to urgently investigate the concerns and direct the contractor to address the alleged defects.
He stressed the need for the contractor to ensure that the affected inner roads and gutters are properly connected, the blocked access routes are restored, and the damaged water pipes are repaired to ease the burden on residents.
The residents are also calling for urgent intervention to ensure that the project meets the required standards and provides the safe and accessible roads they have long been seeking.
They maintain that while the construction project is a welcome development, its benefits will remain limited if the concerns surrounding accessibility, drainage and water supply are not addressed promptly.
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