Residents of Kwadwo Addaikrom, a farming community in the Asunafo North Municipality of the Ahafo Region, have expressed growing concerns over some abandoned projects in the community. They are disgruntled that two projects—a Police Station and a Rural Telephony Network that were started in 2020—have been abandoned with no completion timelines.

The completion of these two projects could benefit over 4,500 residents in Kwadwo Addaikrom and nearby communities such as Abebresekrom, Nyankomagokrom, Adenkyekye, Osei Kwamekrom, Kokofu Number 1, Bitre Sekyere, Adieyepena, and Kwayiekrom. However, all appeals from the residents for their completion have been unsuccessful.

The chief of Kwadwo Addaikrom, Nana Kofi Anane, who is concerned about the issue, blamed the lack of development in the community on the government's neglect, emphasizing its detrimental impact on the residents' socio-economic activities. "Sadly, we have not had our fair share of development from the government, which is evident for everybody to see. The developments that were started for the people too have been abandoned, which is affecting the people in this area," Nana Kofi Anane lamented.

Police Station Left in the Bushes

Nana Kofi Anane pointed out a police station at the lintel level that has been left in the bushes for over four years, with the contractor nowhere to be found. He attributed the surge in theft, robbery, and other criminal cases in the area to the absence of the police station and urged the government to bring back the contractor to complete the project. "As I speak, a police station that was started about four years ago has been left in the bush, and this has led to an increase in social vices among the youth."

Abandoned Telephony Network Project

For years, the residents of Kwadwo Addaikrom and the surrounding communities have been without a mobile network. A Rural Telephony Network project started by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) under the Rural Telephony Project (Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project) to connect the residents to a stable network has stalled.

The Assembly Member for the Bitre Electoral Area, Abraham Seipela Kwabena, reiterated the need to complete the telephony project because telecommunication is a critical component of every modern society. He stated that given the geographical location of Kwadwo Addaikrom, the government needs to complete the project to connect the people to the outside world and bridge the digital divide.

"Telecommunication underpins our health, education, social, and other segments of our life, but the lack of a telecommunication network in this area is negatively affecting the people, making it difficult for them to connect with the outside world."