Some traders in Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region have expressed serious displeasure over the dusty condition in the area due to the ongoing reconstruction of the Ofankor-Nsawam road.
The traders say that their businesses have suffered greatly and that fewer people are buying their products than in the past.
The Ga West Municipal Assembly has made many attempts to relocate the traders to the main market, but all to no avail.
The $346.5 million project, which began on July 20, 2022, is progressing steadily but has led to pollution in the area, which the traders have said is negatively affecting their businesses.
Observation during Republic Press‘s visit to the area revealed how food items being sold by the traders have been left to the mercy of the dust.
“The dust is worrying us. Now, our customers do not come as they used to and it is affecting our sales. I live here too, and our homes are being affected by the dust, which occasionally makes our kids cough,” said Jennifer, a trader who sells by the roadside at Amasaman.
Elizabeth Tetteh, another trader said, “Those of us who sell here are really suffering. I sell crabs but when some customers come here and complain of dust they don’t buy so our sales are going down. If you come here and you don’t use a nose mask too, you will go home with catarrh.”
Some of the traders suggested that the dusty road should be watered, at least, twice a day to help reduce the impact of the dust.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Ministry, Nasir Yartey, in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM assured that plans are in place to complete the project in the early part of 2025.
“The date for the project to be completed is early next year [2025] but its substantial completion will be by November-December this year,” he said.
“In fact, by November-December this year [2024], you should see asphalt on the road, you should see at least three of the interchanges on that road completed. What will be left will be the Amsaman interchange to be completed and maybe the Nsawam junction interchange. Otherwise, by November, this road should be substantially completed.”
