By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Government has scored high marks from motorists, commuters and communities along the Anwiankwanta-Obuasi trunk road for the re-construction.
The Anwiankwanta-Obuasi road has not just been constructed, but upgraded into a first-class stretch with a portion converted into a dual carriage rendering movement much easier and safer.
Obuasi, the administrative capital of the Obuasi Municipality in the Ashanti region, remains a very important town to Asanteman historically.
Economically, it serves as a major source of revenue generation for central government of Ghana owing to the fact that the town is arguably the epicenter of gold production from its vast ore deposit and extraction in past over 100 years.
This economic activity has made the community a centre of attraction for many job seekers, business people and entities in the gold value chain while at the same time, becoming a transit point for motorists and travelers from the northern part of the Ashanti region and beyond towards the Denkyira, Tarkwa, Bogoso and Wassa enclave.
And for such people, the 29-kilometre Anwiankwanta-Obuasi trunk road is indispensable.
There are also many communities along this route or branch off from its intersections at one point or another.
Despite its socio-economic importance, that stretch of the trunk road had been in such a terrible condition that, especially private motorists from northern Ashanti and beyond traveling to Obuasi or Dunkwa were compelled to rather go through Asante Bekwai, Fomena and Adansi Asokwa before branching off to Obuasi constituting about twice the distance from Anwiankwanta to Obuasi.
Reconstruction of the asphaltic road began in 2020 with JOSHOB Construction Company, an indigenous firm executing the project under the supervision of the Ghana Highways Authority.
GBC News visited the project site to see at first-hand progress of work done on the important road.
Some of the commuters and residents of communities along it, who could not hide their excitement about the better state of the stretch, recounted their bad experiences from the hitherto deplorable state of the road.
“The government has done well. Previously when traveling on this stretch of road, I would be very dirty by the time I got to my destination,” said Madam Ama Nyarko, a commuter.
A trader at the Akrokerri Junction, Akua Anima also noted, “before now, at the least rainfall, this portion of the road would become muddy leading to very low sales.”
For motorists plying the road to Obuasi and parts of the Central and Western regions, government’s investment has saved them the frequent visit to the mechanic’s shop and expenditure on spare parts.
“In fact, this government has helped we the drivers plying this road. Previously, I experienced frequent tyre bursts and also visited the mechanic workshop often for breakdown of my vehicle parts but now, the problem has significantly reduced,” said Mr. Yaw Owusu, a Benz Sprinter Anwiankwanta-Bogoso driver.
The greatest part of the project has been completed with the drains almost done with the stretch leading to the Obuasi township dualized to ease the increasing congestion of traffic into the township.
One major intersection which used to be a concern for motorists and commuters along the road was the Akrokerri Junction very famous for the ‘Obuasi Ankaawo’ has also seen a facelift.
Despite the improvement in the road’s condition, the communities along it, drivers, and travelers alike have some concerns that could be easily addressed by the contractor, JOSHB Construction.
A driver, Augustine Ackon observed, “despite improvement in the road, there are no parking and bus stops. Sometimes, if a driver is not extra cautious in dropping off a passenger, oncoming vehicles could crash into yours.”
His colleague, Nana Kyei Mensah also said, ” we need road markings and signs to guide us while in motion to ensure safety.”
With the commitment shown by both the government and contractor towards completion of this Anwiankwanta-Obuasi road, traveling can only be safe and comfortable.
