By Michael Kofi Kenetey
Residents of Akpo, a farming community in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, have appealed to the government to urgently rehabilitate the road leading to the area to help boost economic activities.
They say the poor state of the road is hindering the smooth transportation of goods to market centres, affecting livelihoods and economic growth. The appeal was made when GBC’s Eastern Regional Correspondent, Michael Kofi Kenetey, visited the community to assess the situation.
Akpo, which has a population of more than 2,000 residents, is known for producing crops in large quantities, including cabbage, yam, cassava, plantain, banana, pineapple and garden eggs. During the harvesting season, traders from across the country visit the community to buy produce.
However, the road leading to the area has become highly deplorable and largely unmotorable. A visit to some of the farms showed that crops are nearly ready for harvest, but the poor condition of the road makes it difficult for farmers to transport produce, often resulting in post-harvest losses.
The community, located a few kilometres from the Huhunya Police Training Centre, also lacks access to potable water, reliable telecommunication networks and an efficient healthcare facility. Residents rely on a stream located about a kilometre away as their only source of water.
In an interview with GBC News, the Assembly Member for the Akpo Electoral Area, John Akuffo, appealed to the government, through the Municipal Chief Executive, Francis Addo Akumatey, the Member of Parliament for Yilo Krobo, Albert Tetteh Nyakotey, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey—to support the rehabilitation of the road to promote profitable farming activities.
The Dademantse of Akpo Bunase, Alfred Teye Hogah, said follow-ups with the Municipal Assembly indicated that the road contract had been awarded, but no work had begun. He added that although the community had attempted to rehabilitate the road manually, further progress now requires government intervention.
Residents have also secured a large tract of land for the establishment of a market centre and are appealing to the government for support. They further called on local and foreign investors to consider setting up factories or companies in the area to help reduce post-harvest losses and create employment opportunities
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Source:
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