Correspondence from Eastern region
Contractors working on the Somanya-Kpong and Somanya-Asitey roads have attributed the slow pace of work to a lack of funding from the government.
Residents and shop owners along the roads connecting the Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities in the Eastern Region have expressed concern over health hazards caused by dust generated from the ongoing road rehabilitation works.
Distraught commuters have blamed the contractors for the undue delays in construction, citing significant inconveniences and health risks posed by the dusty roads to road users, motorists, and residents.
Motorists and passengers are bearing the brunt of the poor road conditions, with many drivers unwilling to use the affected stretch and opting for alternative routes instead.
The Somanya-Hwekper section has nearly come to a standstill, with commuters struggling with the dust. Checks conducted by GhanaWeb revealed that the contractors are facing financial difficulties that are impeding the timely completion of the projects.
Billy Brigham Deku, Project Manager at Generals Construction Limited—the company in charge of the two projects—blamed the situation on a lack of funds from the government. He stated that the company is currently awaiting funds from the authorities to expedite progress.
Emphasizing that the lack of resources is the primary cause of the delays, he noted that although Generals Construction Limited has pre-financed the project thus far, efforts to receive payments under both the previous and current governments have been unsuccessful.
“It’s about money. We’ve done a lot of projects for which we haven’t been paid. Even with this one, as far as we’ve gone, we haven’t received any money. The previous projects also remain unpaid, and now the company is overwhelmed by loans and related expenses,” he said.
He added that all assurances made regarding payments have yet to materialize.
When asked whether work had come to a complete halt, he responded, “We’re still working, but at a very slow pace.”
Deku also disclosed that the company is handling other projects in the Eastern Region, including the Mamfe-Larteh, Tafo-Kukurantumi, and Adeiso-Kasoa roads, all of which are similarly stalled due to a lack of funds.
“All these projects are ongoing, but without funds, we cannot make meaningful progress,” he said.
Reconstruction work on the roads began in June 2024 and is expected to be completed within two and a half years. However, the contractors warned that continued delays in fund disbursement could derail the schedule, further prolonging the inconvenience to motorists, road users, and residents.
The financial constraints have also affected the regular watering of the roads, which is necessary to suppress the dust—a major concern for the affected communities. “To control the dust, we need fuel, and fuel costs money. It all comes down to funding,” Deku added.
In separate interviews, residents have appealed to the government to intervene by releasing the necessary funds to enable the contractors to speed up work.
The reconstruction of the 11-kilometre Somanya Roundabout-Kpong road began in June 2024. Rehabilitation of this 8-year-old stretch, originally undertaken in 2016 from Trom through Somanya to Kpong, became necessary due to its complete deterioration over time.
The road, which was asphalted in 2016 at a cost of over GHS 30 million under the previous NDC administration, began showing signs of severe failure only two years later, prompting the need for a comprehensive overhaul.
Affected residents and motorists are also calling for regular watering of the road and expedited construction to bring them much-needed relief.
Meanwhile, watch GhanaWeb’s tour of Fort Victoria and the Cape Coast Lighthouse below: