Obuasi (Ash), July 23, GNA - An appeal has gone to the government to as a matter of emergency, assist in addressing the deprived state of the Amansie West District of Ashanti to open the area for accelerated growth.

Mr Yaw Damah, a citizen of Watreso and a New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist, who made the appeal, regretted the current poor state of roads in the district, which had impeded the free movement of goods and services.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Obuasi on Thursday, Mr Damah said drivers plying the roads faced difficulties as a result of obstacles posed by the nature of the roads. "When it rains, the matter becomes worse as the drivers find it extremely difficult to encounter the hills at J-Baa, Dadiase and those between Datano and Watreso".

Mr Damah said all the bridges spotted on Watreso to Obuasi road are spoilt and currently "boards are being used to serve as improvised bridges for vehicles to ply on them".

He intimated that the bad nature of the roads was seriously affecting effective health care delivery in the area. "Rushing emergency cases to the Agroyesum Saint Martin's Hospital, the only hospital in the district is a big problem due to the heavy and multiple potholes on the roads", he stressed. Mr Damah added that the roads should be rehabilitated to enable farmers to cart their foodstuff to the marketing centres to help reduce poverty in the area.

He again appealed to the government to consider the construction of a district hospital to help in the improvement of health care services to the people.