About 100 residents of the Kulaw Traditional Area in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region staged a peaceful demonstration to demand the completion of the Sawaba–Abrumase road project, describing the road as a vital lifeline for the area.
The demonstrators marched from Abrumase to Kulaw, where they presented a petition to President John Dramani Mahama through the Paramount Chief of Kulaw, Mahama Dari Kotochi Borewunche I, urging government to expedite work on the road.
The protesters expressed concern over what they described as the slow pace of work on the road, arguing that the delay is hampering farming activities, access to healthcare, education and overall economic development in the area.
They noted that Kulaw and surrounding communities, including Talkpa, Abrumase, Akamade, Kejewu and Jimtito, are among Ghana’s major yam-producing areas and play a significant role in the country’s food production, making the road crucial for transporting farm produce to markets.
However, residents say the poor state of the road continues to impede the transportation of farm produce to major markets, resulting in post-harvest losses and financial difficulties for farmers and traders.
Speaking on behalf of the Concerned Youth and People of Kulaw, convenor Ussif Mohammed Danjima welcomed the government’s decision to award the contract in 2025 but expressed concern over the slow pace of work. He attributed the delay to inadequate funding, which he said has significantly affected the contractor, Skycom Company Limited, and the progress of the project.
The petition further highlighted challenges in the health sector, including difficulties in accessing quality healthcare and emergency referral services, particularly for pregnant women and children.
Residents also raised concerns about inadequate educational facilities, poor telecommunications services and the lack of access to potable drinking water, forcing many communities to rely on dams shared with animals.
Some demonstrators warned that if the road project remains uncompleted, the area could continue to suffer economically despite its contribution to national food production.
Although the protest ended peacefully, residents said the demonstration was intended to send a strong message to authorities that the people of Kulaw can no longer endure the prolonged delay.
They are therefore appealing to the government to urgently release funds to facilitate the completion of the road project and improve living conditions in the area.
