Eastern regional minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, has attributed fallen rocks on the Aburi road in the eastern region to failure of structural integrity.

According to him, the incident which occurred on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, per facts available, were as a result of a collapse and a failed fence wall of a property on the mountain. He further indicated that it is also a combination of a road construction which is also being undertaken in the same neighbourhood.

In light of this, Mr Acheampong stated that the fallen rocks are runoffs that the heavy downpour carried and by the consistent and saturation nature, it was so heavy for the fence wall, which resulted in its collapse.

“That is how come we got all these debris coming down… So, in this instance, this is not a typical sedimentary falloffs that we used to experience with this particular mountain. It is as a result of work in progress and at the same time failure of structural integrity [per] what the engineers told us…
Seth Kwame Acheampong

Mr Acheampong stated that properties built along the road are the first to be cited in such matters because they are the “immediate habitats”. As such, he stated that researchers will be looking for information, especially in the interest of road users who are experiencing the unfortunate incident and situation occurring on the road.

“Besides, it falls within a municipality within the Eastern region and so typically, it is a concern to all road users. The road is not necessarily for people living in the eastern region, it’s a national road, owned by the Ghana Highway Authority and so when there is anything untoward, they are the first people we need to inform.”
Seth Kwame Acheampong

Commenting on what has been done with respect to resolving the recurring problem on the stretch, the eastern regional minister noted that the minister for roads and highways has been informed, and he has subsequently gotten in touch with the chief director of the ministry and together with a team of engineers and the chief executive of the Ghana Highway Authority, they have made some assessment.

“The highway portion where we are discussing currently falls within the greater Accra region in terms of road management, it is not under the eastern region. However, we had a team of eastern, greater Accra and the national, headed by the chief executive as well as the chief director come to the ground.”
Seth Kwame Acheampong

Addressing issue of falling rocks on Aburi road

The falling of rocks on the Aburi road has been a recurring phenomenon and there have been calls for government and relevant authorities to address the situation. However, speaking on the matter, Mr Acheampong explained that when issues of this nature happens, policy makers and implementers rely on professionals for direction.

Moreover, he conceded that there is some failure with the mesh which is broken now, which is as a result of some heavy activity. He noted that the highway authority engineers have taken notice of all the happenings and have promised to come to remedy them.

“The reason why we cannot usurp their right and authority is that by the government arrangement and governance effect, they are the owners of the corridor. So, everything related to it, you have to refer to them… However, unfortunately, we have been battling settlement along the road…”

On the issue of property development along the Aburi stretch, Mr Acheampong highlighted it has indeed been a source of concern to authorities. He stated that the Akuapem south municipality is currently in court with three developers on the matter.

Additionally, he revealed that it has solicited advice from the regional coordinating council on how and where policies must be directed to. He explained that within this year they have held their maiden meeting and made presentations with respect to this particular enclave.

“Reasons are that, we had already issued concerns to the Obuortebiri mountain in Koforidua area where we realized that settlements were rearing the head in that neighbourhood. So, we encouraged the New Juaben south municipality, who is the owner of that neighbourhood to prevent future approvals if any came before the development committee of the assembly so that we will be able to control the destruction, at the same time what we call unnecessary disturbance of the vegetation…”
Seth Kwame Acheampong