Business News of Sunday, 6 July 2014

Source: GNA

Completion of 64-km road boosts economic activities

The successful completion of the 64.3 kilometre bitumen-surfaced Obogu-Gyadam road has given a huge boost to economic activities in communities served by it.

It is facilitating intense trading among the people in six Asante-Akim South communities and four adjoining districts – Akyemansa, Birim North, Bosome-Freho and Asante-Akim Central.

Farmers and traders at Obogu, Atiemo, Bankame, Ofoase, Yaw Bronya and Gyadam told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that they now have a ready market for their farm produce and goods.

The nightmare and difficulty of transporting foodstuff on a bad and dusty road inundated with potholes was now over, they said.

They said apart from the comfort and safety it was providing to travelers, it had also shortened the travelling time.

The GNA visited the area under STAR-Ghana’s sponsored media auditing and tracking of development projects, an initiative launched to throw a spotlight on how government’s resources are helping to change the lives of the people, particularly those in rural communities.

The goal is to aid transparency and good local governance.

Mr Issah Mahmoud, a farmer at Gyadam, said he could now expand his food crop farm because unlike the past when it was difficult to find buyers, the situation had changed with traders from different areas chasing after the farmers to buy from them at good prices.

He recalled the pain they had to go through commuting between Gyadam and Obogu as drivers simply refused to ply the road due to its bad nature.

Madam Abena Birago, a market woman at Atiemo, praised the Government for the project and said it was a big relief.

Mr Kofi Aboagye of Bankame said: “It is good that the nuisance caused by the dust had been tackled”.