The Kyidomhene and Asabihene for Dome-Kwabenya-Berekuso, Nana Osae Sekyi II, has called on the government to act swiftly on the stalled Dome-Kwabenya Berekuso-Kitase road project following a demonstration by residents and stakeholders. He argued that the prolonged absence of a contractor has left communities facing serious difficulties while an important road project remains incomplete.
Speaking after the demonstration, Nana Osae Sekyi II explained that residents have spent about one and a half years waiting for visible progress on the road. He noted that the affected communities include Dome, Kwabenya, Kitase, Berekuso and surrounding areas where residents rely heavily on the route for daily movement.
The traditional leader disclosed that stakeholders initially sought dialogue with relevant authorities before resorting to the demonstration. A stakeholders meeting was organised with invitations extended to Members of Parliament, while further engagements were held with officials of the Ghana Highways Authority.
According to Nana Osae Sekyi II, officials gave residents assurances that the contractor would return to the project. Further developments, however, revealed that the contractor has no current signed agreement to resume work..
“We are saying on authority that there is no contractor on the road. There is no contract that has been signed with First Sky as at now. That is why we have to hit the road to tell Mr President that your people are dying slowly.”
Nana Osae Sekyi II
The Kyidomhene therefore challenged the information presented to Parliament regarding the contractor’s return to the site. He argued that residents on the ground could verify that construction activity has been absent from the road.
Referencing the project’s history, Nana Osae Sekyi II recalled that the road was originally awarded to First Sky under a two-year contract. He explained that the contractor later began removing equipment from the area gradually, creating uncertainty among residents about whether work would resume.
Unfulfilled Assurances To The People
The traditional leader also indicated that residents continued seeking clarification through meetings with the contractor and the Ghana Highways Authority. The engagements eventually produced an explanation that the original contract has been cancelled and a new agreement yet to be signed.
The stalled arrangement, he argued, makes any expectation of an immediate return to construction difficult to understand. From his perspective, a clear contractual framework should precede any instruction for a contractor to return to the site.
Nana Osae Sekyi II also linked the current demand to previous political commitments concerning the road. He recalled assurances given by President John Dramani Mahama during his time as Vice President and later as President regarding efforts to improve the route.
The project subsequently received renewed attention after President Mahama’s return to office and the inclusion of the Dome Berekuso Kitase road among projects earmarked for development. The development generated optimism among residents before the absence of a contractor again became apparent.
The traditional leader also appealed to the government to protect the investment already made on the road. He argued that work previously undertaken by First Sky represents public expenditure that should be preserved through timely completion.
Residents Plan Further Petitions Over Stalled Road Project
Nana Osae Sekyi II disclosed that the group intends to submit an official petition to Parliament, the responsible ministry and the Presidency. The planned petitions follow what the stakeholders regarded as an inadequate response from their elected representatives during the demonstration. The Kyidomhene disclosed that invitations were delivered ahead of the today’s demonstration and reminders were also issued within the week preceding the action.
According to him, neither the relevant ministers nor the area’s Member of Parliament attended the demonstration or sent representatives to receive the petition on their behalf. He described the absence as disappointing for residents who expected their representatives to engage directly with the people they serve.
The petition was nevertheless presented publicly during the demonstration and copies were made available to the media. The next stage involves formally directing the concerns of the affected communities to the institutions responsible for addressing the matter.
Nana Osae Sekyi II emphasised that the stakeholders are pursuing institutional channels after using the demonstration to bring the road’s demonstration condition into public discussion. Their objective is focused on securing a clear commitment and a practical pathway towards resuming construction.
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