The Sipim of Manya Aklomuase in the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sipim Narh Terkpertey II, has expressed deep disappointment over the government’s failure to rehabilitate the deteriorating Somanya–Kpong road and other roads in the area, despite several assurances following persistent appeals and a recent youth demonstration demanding urgent action.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the annual Ngmayem Festival, Nene Sipim Terkpertey revealed that although authorities had promised that work will resume on the stretch before the celebration, only limited activity was observed, which was quickly halted soon after the protest.

“We’ve spoken several times about the road before the demonstration. On the eve of the protest, we were told contractors were returning to the site, but they only brought the DRIP machines and stopped working soon after. We warned that if they failed to resume works before our festival, we would block all trucks from using the road,” he said.

According to him, appeals from the Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs) and the Members of Parliament (MPs) for the area persuaded traditional authorities to exercise patience, but no tangible progress has since been made.

“We’re disappointed in the MPs and the MCEs. They are aware of the suffering of shop owners who endure thick dust daily, yet the MP rather accused the demonstrators of doing the bidding of the opposition NPP; he must come out and apologise,” the chief added.

The traditional leader indicated that he and other leaders will review their next line of action after the festival, stressing that the community will not wait until election year to demand accountability.

“For now, let’s all exercise patience,” he said, urging drivers and others affected by the situation daily to remain cautious as they continue to battle with dust and potholes.

Widespread discontent and youth protests

His remarks follow a major demonstration by Krobo youth groups earlier in October, where hundreds of residents from Somanya, Odumase-Krobo, and Kpong poured onto the streets demanding immediate rehabilitation of the Somanya–Kpong road, a crucial 15-kilometre stretch that links the Krobo enclave to the Tema industrial corridor and the Volta Region.

The demonstration, organised by Kloma Hengme Association, Dangme Youth for Development, and other civic groups, followed a failed assurance by the Eastern Regional Minister to ensure that works resume by the first week of October.

Leaders of the protest handed a petition to the Lower Manya Krobo MCE, giving the government a 60-day ultimatum to return contractors to the site or face further action. The petition cited worsening dust pollution, health complications, and economic hardship for traders along the route.

In mid-2025, Nene Sipim Narh Terkpertey II had already issued a stern warning that trucks transporting limestone and other goods through the area would be blocked if the government failed to fix the road.

His warning, followed repeated complaints that heavy-duty trucks from nearby industrial operations were worsening the already dilapidated road.

He noted that while the Somanya–Kpong road was last reconstructed around 2016 by First Sky Construction Limited, the surface deteriorated within a few years.

The condition has since worsened, leaving deep potholes, uneven surfaces, and thick clouds of dust that engulf shops, homes, and schools.

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