Western Regional Minister vows action over stalled Bawdie–Asankragwa road project

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has assured residents along the Bawdie–Asankragwa road of government action to address concerns over the stalled 52-kilometre project, following mounting pressure from chiefs and residents for the contractor to be replaced.

The residents, who have expressed frustration over repeated interruptions to construction, are demanding the termination of the contract awarded to Asabea Construction, citing deteriorating road conditions, frequent accidents and safety concerns.

Their concerns have been heightened by the reported death of a young girl who fell into an open drain under construction, with residents accusing the contractor of failing to respond with the urgency required.

Speaking during an engagement on the project, Mr Nelson acknowledged the growing concerns and said the government would take the necessary steps to address the situation.

“Every road project is awarded with the expectation that it will bring relief to the people who use it. However, when residents are dissatisfied with the quality and pace of work, it becomes necessary to take immediate action,” he said.

He noted that he had previously raised concerns about the contractor’s slow pace of work and expressed disappointment that the situation had worsened rather than improved.

“We had hoped to see an improvement, but unfortunately, the situation is getting worse instead of better,” he added.

The 52-kilometre road connects the Amenfi East, Amenfi Central and Amenfi West constituencies in the Western Region. However, repeated stoppages have left sections in poor condition, making travel difficult for motorists and other road users.

Chiefs and residents allege that the contractor resumed work ahead of the 2024 general elections but abandoned the project after the polls. Work reportedly resumed following an inspection by the Roads Minister but stalled again shortly afterwards.

They are questioning the contractor’s ability to complete the project and want the government to appoint a new contractor.

One of the local stakeholders accused Asabea Construction of repeatedly returning to the site during election periods and withdrawing its equipment afterwards.

The stakeholder said the contractor was confronted during the Roads Minister’s visit and warned that work would stop again once the minister left.

According to the stakeholder, that prediction has since materialised, leaving residents uncertain about when the project will be completed.

Amenfi Central NDC Constituency Chairman hopeful, Kingsley Mireku Konadu, said the deteriorating condition of the road had contributed to frequent crashes involving motorists and motorcyclists.

“We continue to record road accidents, with at least one involving a motorbike or car occurring every two weeks. This is largely due to the poor drainage works carried out by Asabea Construction,” he said.

Mr Konadu also cited increasing traffic on the road and the lack of asphalt roads in the area as reasons for the urgent completion of the project.

He called on the government to replace the contractor, arguing that the continued delays were putting lives at risk.

Amenfi Central District Chief Executive, Peter Amponsah, said the situation had become particularly distressing following the death of the young girl, who reportedly fell into one of the open drains.

He said the drain had remained unattended for more than eight months and that the contractor had failed to act despite promising to address the problem within two weeks.

“I contacted Asabea Construction, and the contractor promised to fix it within two weeks. However, nearly five weeks have passed, and nothing has been done, even after we all visited the site to assess the situation,” he said.

Mr Amponsah said the incident had heightened concerns among chiefs and the Assembly, renewing calls for urgent intervention to prevent further tragedies.

The Bawdie–Asankragwa road remains a major transport link for communities across the three constituencies, with residents hoping the Regional Minister’s assurance will translate into concrete action to get the project back on track.