….As Assembly Responds Positively
From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor
Inhabitants of the Fanteakwa District have called on President John Dramani Mahama, through the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, to rescue them from what they term death trap road network in the area.
The Fanteakwa District Assembly is one of the 26 Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Eastern Region, and was curved out of the old East Akyem District Council by Legislative Instrument (LI) 1411 of 1988, in pursuance of the government’s decentralisation and local government reform policies.
The district ranks sixth in the region, in terms of landmass, with an area of 1,150 square kilometres and shares boundaries with other assemblies in the region – Kwahu South to the West, Kwahu East to the North, East Akyem, Manya Krobo and Yilo, and Atiwa to the South, East, and South-West respectively.
With its acronym FDA, it can boast of a population of 108,614, with males constituting 54,010, whilst females make up 54,604 as at the time of 2010 Population and Housing Census, with its corresponding estimated growth rate of 3.17 percent.
The population of the district is dominated by Christians, who constitute about 86.3 percent, and Muslims and traditionalists, 11.2 and 2.5 percent. The religious and sacred roles they play towards the development agenda of the district cannot be underestimated.
It is a place worth visiting on any given day, with little or no language barriers, particularly, local tourists who would put the place ahead of any other tourist sites, not only in the region, but Ghana, because of its ethnic diversity.
The district is dominated by Akans, who constitute 61.3 percent of the entire population, followed by the Ga-Adangbe, 13.1 percent, with others such as Chamba, Kotokoli, Moshie, and Ewe making up 11.5 percent, while northerners and Guans account for 6.9 percent and 4.7 percent respectively.
It is naturally gifted with waterfalls and many other tourist attraction sites, which have virtually been under-utilised to the benefit of its inhabitants, most of whom are wallowing in abject poverty, amidst school dropouts.
Despite the district’s huge tourist potential, with some sites packaged in different fascinating sizes, shapes, and colours that tourists cannot resist, the bad road network discourages them.
Notable among some of the tourist sites are the Akrum Waterfalls, situated on the Begoro Apaa road, Trudu Waterfalls at Begoro, and Osuben Waterfalls also at Osubenbuom, which visitors have, over the years, patronised, especially during festive occasions.
The most fascinating site is Paradise Rock. A natural rock that looks like a ten-floor storey building, with what could be described as rooms and other resting places, which has made the district stand tall in the area of tourism.
Apart from the proper utilisation of natural resources, the roads network in the area are virtually death traps to their users, a situation that has also deeply rooted the area to low economic activities.
The situation, which has not gone unnoticed to residents of the area, has now become a major topic of discussion, with them calling on the President, through his representative in the district, to act now. The main road to the district, among others, has developed gullies, making it very difficult for users, especially when it rains.
In the quest of the assembly to improve the economic conditions, and also the road network in the area, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Abass Fuseini Sbaabe, on Wednesday, broke the ground for the reconstruction of the road leading to the Begoro Government Hospital.
That particular section of the road has received huge attention, due to its bad nature, which deters drivers, a situation that has negatively affected many people who need to access the hospital when sick.
The project, which is being undertaken by Star Dest Construction Company Limited and is expected to be completed within three months, is worth GH¢200,000 and funded by the Social Investment Fund (SIF), with the Assembly supporting with 20 per cent of total cost. Reconstruction work on roads leading to Ahomahomaso, Abuoso, Herman and Teachers’ Bungalow will soon commence.
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