Residents of Atlas Hills, located in Anyaa within the Ga Central Municipal Assembly, recently organized a march to protest deteriorating infrastructure in the area. The community has faced years of neglect, resulting in crumbling roads, a lack of potable water, and widespread illegal land sales and encroachments affecting parts of the Anyaa Sowutuom Constituency.
The neighborhood, situated between Gbawe and Anyaa, is home to thousands of people, yet its road network has deteriorated significantly. Deep gullies and large craters make vehicular travel dangerous and hinder daily activities, leaving residents frustrated over the impact on their safety and quality of life.
The protest, coordinated by the Atlas Hills Homeowners and Residents Association, aimed to draw government attention to these pressing issues. Participants included homeowners, traders, and commercial drivers who marched along the damaged roads, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to safeguard their livelihoods and dignity.
Community leaders appealed to national and local authorities to prioritize Atlas Hills in ongoing urban road development programs, such as the Big Push, and to ensure the deployment of essential road improvement machinery through the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP). Residents emphasized their willingness to contribute fuel and labor to facilitate the repairs, stressing that their primary concern is access to basic infrastructure.
The march also spotlighted the illegal sale and construction of buildings on legally designated community roads, which has obstructed drainage systems and worsened flooding. Reports indicate that these encroachments are often enforced by armed land guards, creating fear and insecurity among locals.
In addition, the community suffers from a lack of water infrastructure, with no Ghana Water pipelines currently available. Residents have called on the relevant ministries to expedite the extension of water pipelines to ensure access to this essential resource.
The state of the roads has had severe consequences for residents. Instances include critically ill patients being carried through mud and rain due to impassable roads, mothers walking long distances after medical procedures because vehicles could not navigate the terrain, and taxi operators increasing fares due to vehicle damage and longer travel times.
The Atlas Hills protest underscores the urgent need for government intervention to restore roads, secure public spaces from illegal encroachment, and extend basic utilities to the community, safeguarding both lives and livelihoods.
