New Patriotic Party Parliamentary Candidate for the Essikadu-Ketan Constituency in the Western Region, Charles Bissue’s promise to see to the rehabilitation of the ‘dreadful’ Eshiem Road is on course to becoming a reality soon, following the rollout of the government’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) and commitments from companies along the road.
In the last three years, there have been over six separate demonstrations on the Eshiem Road, which have all been provoked by perhaps the “nonchalance of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly” towards the lamentations of Eshiem residents over the deplorable state of their road.
Several promises to get the road done have largely remained lip service, made only to get the demonstrating residents to leave the road, allowing the free flow of traffic for trucks carting industrial items for companies in the enclave.
In June of this year, Charles Bissue gave a firm assurance of his commitment to lead and work with the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and the companies located along the road to rehabilitate it.
“Since then, I have been quietly engaging them, and I must say the commitment from the companies to help ensure that the road is rehabilitated has been amazing. They appreciate the fact that the government cannot do it alone, and as good corporate citizens, they understand it will be of immense benefit to their operations in terms of faster mobility if the road is fixed,” Charles Bissue told reporters after he paid a familiarization visit to Jintao Sanitary Ware Ghana Ltd, one of the companies along the Eshiem Road.
Charles Bissue also mentioned his numerous interactions with the Roads and Highways Ministry and the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, where he has consistently stressed the need for funds to be devoted to the rehabilitation of the Eshiem Road, considering its economic significance.
“Apart from the Port of Takoradi Enclave and Tarkwa, Eshiem can boast of the highest concentration of large-scale industries, so it stands to reason that the main road there should be in good condition. Therefore, getting it fixed has become my obsession since I made my declaration in June.”
His zeal to see the Eshiem Road fully rehabilitated has been given a resounding boost with the rollout of the government’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), which is purposed to give a significant facelift to roads across the country.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has received 18 machines under the DRIP, including tipper trucks, backhoes, tankers, rollers, graders, and concrete mixers. These will be shared among the Sub-Metropolitan areas, with the Essikadu-Ketan Sub-Metro expected to receive six of such machines.
A source at the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly indicated that “The Eshiem Road is a high priority on the assembly’s itinerary of roads to be tackled under the DRIP.” The source continued, “…also because Charles Bissue has been coming to the assembly every week since June, unfailingly, and all he talks about is the Eshiem Road and why it should be rehabilitated. I think he has done a good job convincing the assembly.”
Charles Bissue has spent the last four days visiting the various companies along the road to firm up plans on the form of support the companies will extend concerning the road’s rehabilitation.
“My wish is to see work commence on the road in September. There is a considerable amount of work to be done, and there is no time to waste. From the discussions and assurances my team and I have received, it is possible that my September projection, barring any last-minute changes, can work. My discussion with STMA is also nearly complete.”
“So, I can assure the good people of Eshiem that very soon they will see work on the road. And the work will continue until the road is completed. There will be some discomfort, but during those times, I will plead for maximum restraint from all parties, including the companies, residents, and the contractor.”
