Roads in Obuasi became a topical issue a few years back with some arguing that Obuasi as a mining town deserved better infrastructure than what existed. Some concerned citizens registered their displeasure by staging series of demonstrations as well as taking to social media to voice out their concerns about the deplorable nature of Obuasi roads.
Key to the issues were major roads like Obuasi-Kumasi road, Obuasi- Asokwa junction road, Court- mactina road, central market road, Abompe road, etc.
The Obuasi- Anwiankwanta road was captured in the budget statement read by the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta on 15th November 2018. Work however started on the 30km road on 12th December 2018.
Currently, the road is almost complete with works on the main seal ongoing. Refreshingly, the stretch from Obuasi to Kyekyewere has been dualised in the process becoming the only dualised road in Obuasi.
However, work on the internal Obuasi road started in earnest beginning on 22nd February 2020 with places like the CBD, Abompekrom, Gauso extension, Boete- Kwabenakwa roads seeing asphalt overlays whiles there has been surface dressing on roads at Bigobiri East and West, Koffekrom and Abompe new site.
Refreshingly, the Obuasi bypass (from Mactina junction to Court junction) road received world Bank support through the Secondary Cities Support Program the Obuasi Municipal Assembly participated in. Work on the 5km stretch began in 2020. That stretch has been asphalted with beautiful road markings to match.
AngloGold Ashanti in June 2020 cuts sod for the construction of a 1.3km road from Kunka to Nyameso. The link road to Dunkwa and Tarkwa until AGA’s intervention was in a bad state.
Other internal road projects are currently ongoing adding up to the existing upgrade of road infrastructure in the mining town.
The SMS News team on Wednesday, 22nd March 2023 sampled views of the people of Obuasi on the state of Obuasi roads and what can be done to maintain them.
Akwasi Okai, a driver who drives from the Central Market to Kwabenakwa said that hitherto they had challenges using that stretch of road but now that the road has been fixed and made motorable, they can only thank authorities.
He continued ” they promised us that the road will be in two phases; primer seal and the main seal, now that we have seen the first seal, we await the main seal”. He further advised that government should fast-track the process to seal the little potholes that are developing on the road since heavy downpours can destroy the road.
“We are expecting the government to also use our road toll to improve the roads that have not been done”, he added.
Speaking to the passengers onboard a Kwabenakwa-bound vehicle from the Obuasi Central market, they were impressed with the nature of Obuasi roads now. They praised the government for the improvement done in the roads sector saying “in previous years we used about 40minutes to reach our destination because the road was not good but because of the upgrade of our road now, we take about 25minutes to 30minutes so it has helped us”
They were however quick to add that the absence of an alternative route from the central business district to the Obuasi East district is problematic.
“Currently when something blocks the road it means that the vehicles would not have anywhere else to pass. We are pleading with the government to discover and develop an alternative route to link the Obuasi East district and the Municipality.
John Coffie of G.P.R.T.U No.2 in his interaction with the team talked about the quality of roads saying the drivers faced a lot of challenges when the roads were in a deplorable state. His major concern as he narrated was the ETS roundabout which he appealed to the government to intervene and fix it.
Mr. Coffie also appealed to authorities of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to have a second look at some of the ‘one ways’ the Assembly created emphasizing that they are creating inconveniences for the drivers.
Joe, a highway driver had concerns on the Kunka road. He intimated that the road should be given a facelift.
He said ” currently the traffic lights are not working so if they are of no use, they should be cleared or perhaps should be replaced to protect the lives of people who use the road.
Another Highway driver Mohammed Awudu who Plies the Obuasi to Dunkwa road narrated how lives have been lost in recent times on the stretch due to potholes, especially at Bidiem. He called on the authorities to fix it as a matter of urgency.
” There should be road signs on the roads, especially from J.J to Estate where the 4- junction is near the Assemblies of God church, Stadium. The absence of traffic lights has resulted in a lot of accidents in that area”, he stressed.
G.P.R.T.U CRIES FOR ROAD SIGNS AND MARKS IN OBUASI TOWNSHIP
Nana Akwasi Asante; Welfare chairman of G.P.R.T.U(Horsey Park) lauded the Obuasi Municipal Assembly and Government for the massive investment in road infrastructure in recent times. He posited that most roads in Obuasi are now better and motorable.
However, he was quick to add that the Assembly must provide road signs and markings on the new roads to make it easier for the drivers.
The Welfare officer added that the Dunkwa Junction to Mawuli Hotel, Bongobiri to Junction, and GCB Bank to Fagum the roads are very deplorable with a lot of pot holes hence called on government to intervene.
Yaw Fosu(Station Master at Obuasi Central market) recounted the effect of the bad nature of the Obuasi road on their vehicles. ” Drivers were frustrated during that period since it had a toll on our sales because you to visit the mechanic after every trip. Things are better now”.
Pomposo
Akua Henewaah a passenger at pomposo in the Obuasi East however shared a bizarre story of experiencing miscarriage when playing the Pomposo road due to its bad nature. She added that asphalting the road has brought huge relief to commuters.
Kyekyewere
Joshuah Nsiah a driver at the horsey park, Kyekyewere station believed that the dusty nature of the road back then affected the lives of some of the workers.
He said their work had been cut out for them due to the Asphalt on the road now ” we are now happy and enjoying our work”.
From our interaction with residents of Obuasi, it was evidenced that the road network in both the Obuasi East and Obuasi Municipal has been improved but their concern was on maintenance and provision of road signs, markings and traffic lights to ease vehicular movements