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.



Source: Today Newspaper

This is really appalling... I can feel how the farmers are suffering.. Walking long distances to their farms tired and then on top of it all working in such tired condition and then walking back home through this same long distance, that is if you don't have money for motorbike... Hmm, i feel so sorry for the residents over there.... You just don't understand why some of these companies behave as such...

The same road you know the farmers have to cover everyday to their farms before they can make an ends meet yet these timber contractors can even help to patch up the road so that everyone benefits but rather continue to destroy it the more... All they know is the progress of their company but not thinking about the well being of these poor residents...

Coming to think about it, Same road we all use for our daily activities... Now the road is deteriorating and needs to be patched for convenience use yet this issue has become a burden... Farmers have to resort to motorcycle as their means of transport in and out which is very expensive... Clearly these contractors don't seem to care.... I support their intention to close the road down so long as their plea continues to fall into deaf ears...

Wont talk about these Ministers because we all know all they do is to chop the money and do nothing.... Hope somehow there is some sort of improvement concerning this pathetic case soon because this farmers are really going through hell.. Feel so sad for them... The way the nature of the road is, something needs to be done imminently...