Correspondence from the Bono Region

Residents using the Sunyani-Abesim road in the Bono Region have expressed concern over delays in completing the project, with the road inconveniencing commuters, businesses, and communities along the route.

The concerns of the residents follow months of inactivity, with some residents questioning why the project has not progressed as expected after sections of the road were cleared to facilitate the construction.

Lamenting the prolonged delay, residents say that months after traders were evacuated from the road, the contractor's absence on the stretch has left them disappointed.

“I am disappointed that many months after the promises that the contractor was going to start the construction, there has not been any progress, and as I speak, he is nowhere to be found”, Yaw Peprah disclosed.

The residents say the delay has come at a cost, particularly for people who depend on the road for their daily activities.

Motorists and commuters spend more time on the route, particularly during peak hours, while the situation has also made movement more stressful for residents and businesses operating along the corridor.

“Using the road has become increasingly difficult and stressful, because you have to spend a lot of time before you get to Sunyani”, Oduo Charles bemoaned.

Traders count losses

Traders who were evacuated to pave the way for the construction of the road contend that they have lost their regular sources of income after spending years building their businesses at the location and developing a regular customer base.

Cecilia Odum laments that relocating elsewhere meant starting all over again, with additional costs for securing new spaces, transporting goods and rebuilding their customer base.

“We were asked to leave because of the road project, and we understood. But since we left, things have become difficult for us”, she said.

Another trader, Patrick Anokye, expresses concern about mounting debts following his evacuation, citing reduced sales and customer patronage after relocating his business.

Residents want timeline

Given the importance of the road to daily commuting, commercial activities and movement within the area, residents are calling on the authorities and project managers to provide a clear and realistic timeline for its completion.

They believe a definite schedule would help ease uncertainty among residents, traders and motorists while also ensuring greater accountability in the execution of the project.

GWL installation blamed for delay

With public pressure mounting for the contractor to get back on site, authorities have attributed the delay in starting the project to the relocation of Ghana Water Limited (GWL) installations along the project corridor.

Speaking during a road tour in July 2026, the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, admitted that some GWL pipelines and related infrastructure within the road reserve must be relocated before the contractor can fully proceed with the works.

“We were having issues on that road because there were water installations within the road corridor. We needed to shift the road to one side. We sent the drawings to Accra for approval."

Joseph Addae Akwaboa had earlier assured residents that the contractor would return to the site in August 2026, but the promised resumption has yet to materialise.