Bayirebebon residents declare war

Residents of Bayirebebon in the Bibiani-Ahwiaso-Bekwai district of the Western region have warned timber contractors who ply the road that they will soon block that stretch of the road to prevent them from using it, Today can report.

According to the angry residents, the road linking Ahwiaso to Bayirebebon and other adjoining villages has become so deplorable due to the heavy duty trucks used by the timber contractors on the road.

The farmers now do not have any option but to walk long distances whilst carrying their farm produce because taxis and pick-up cars which hitherto transported them to and from the community no longer ply the road due to its bad nature.

However, those who could afford fares charged by commercial motorbikes (Okada) operators relied on them to get to their destinations.

Today was told that some of the timber contractors did not show concern about the deplorable nature of the road situation in the area.

Chairman of the local branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Emmanuel Beyeseh, told this reporter that they had over the years made several calls to the authorities to reconstruct the road but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

"We have spoken to two different Members of Parliament (MPs), three District Chief Executives (DCEs), and the timber contractors who operate here but they all don’t show any concern to this problem. Now all our cars are breaking down and motorcycles are taking over our business, charging exorbitant prices," he lamented.

Today observed that for a four-kilometre (4km) journey which taxis charged one cedi and fifty pesewas (Ghc1.50p), motorcycles charged three cedis (Ghc3.00).

A pregnant woman told this paper that the poor nature of the road made their farming activities very difficult.

"Even in my pregnancy state I have to carry these plantains and walk over three kilometres. We beg government to do something about the road for us," she appealed.

The paper also gathered that out of the three timber contractors who operate in the Ahwiaso and other forests in the area, only one was duly licensed to operate.