Bekwai Member of Parliament, Hon. Ralph Poku-Adusei, has released GHS 30,000 to support the resumption of stalled road reshaping works on the Dotom-Koniyaw-Kokotro stretch in the Bekwai Constituency.
The intervention follows the suspension of work after the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) machine deployed to the area ran out of fuel, leaving residents once again grappling with difficult road conditions.
Under the latest arrangement, GHS 10,000 each has been allocated to Dotom, Koniyaw and Kokotro to facilitate the purchase of fuel and enable the DRIP equipment to return to operation.
The MP’s intervention came after engagements with Assembly Members, traditional authorities, community leaders and residents over the worsening condition of the road and the need for urgent action.
The development has been welcomed by residents who have been relying on the road for access to healthcare facilities, schools, markets and other essential services.
Hon. Poku-Adusei’s latest intervention also recalls a larger commitment he made to the same road in 2024, when he personally provided GHS 160,000 to support reshaping and surfacing works.
That earlier intervention followed the reported death of a pregnant woman in labour while being transported along the badly deteriorated road, an incident that highlighted the serious consequences of poor road infrastructure in rural communities.
At the time, DRIP machinery had not yet been deployed to the various Assemblies, prompting the then Parliamentary Candidate to mobilise his own resources to undertake emergency works on the road.
Two years later, however, the availability of DRIP machinery has not eliminated the challenges facing the road project, with fuel shortages emerging as a major obstacle to sustained operations.
The MP has consequently raised concerns about the financing of DRIP operations and the ability of Assemblies and rural communities to sustain road works when equipment is available but operational resources are inadequate.
He said the latest GHS 30,000 should be regarded as an emergency intervention rather than a permanent solution.
According to him, the ultimate objective remains the construction and tarring of the Dotom-Koniyaw-Kokotro road to eliminate the recurring need for reshaping.
Hon. Poku-Adusei also disclosed that efforts are being intensified to get contractor B. Beniako, whose contract was reportedly awarded in 2019, to return to site and complete the project.
He further identified the Kensere-Biribiwomanmu-Pampaso and Anwiankwanta-Poano-Sarfokrom roads as other critical networks requiring attention in the constituency.
He said properly constructed roads were essential to agriculture, trade, healthcare, education and the movement of people and goods.
Assembly Members, including Mr. Boat, Hon. Mavis and Hon. Ken Oppong Kyekyeku, expressed appreciation to the MP for responding to the immediate needs of the affected communities.
They described the intervention as critical to getting the stalled road works back on track.
For residents of Dotom, Koniyaw and Kokotro, the latest intervention offers immediate relief, but the long-term expectation remains the completion of the road project.
The latest development therefore places renewed attention on the need to move beyond periodic reshaping and secure a permanent road solution for the communities.
