Ave-Dakpa Community Appeals For Inclusion In Dual Carriageway Project

Residents and traditional authorities of Ave-Dakpa in the Akatsi North District of the Volta Region have appealed to the government to include the township in the proposed dual carriageway development, under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme.

In a petition addressed to the Minister for Roads and Highways through the Volta Regional Minister, the community expressed concern over what it described as the omission of Ave-Dakpa from plans to construct dual carriageways along the Ho-Denu highway corridor, despite the town’s long-standing road safety challenges.

The petition, dated March 25, 2025 said the appeal was necessitated by the alarming rate of road accidents in the district capital, which have claimed at least 46 lives since 1980.

According to the community, road crashes along the stretch have remained a major concern for residents over the years, with several fatal incidents involving pedestrians and schoolchildren.

The petition recalled that in 2015 alone, four school children lost their lives in separate accidents while on their way to school, triggering widespread demonstrations and protests by residents.

The community noted that the then District Chief Executive for Akatsi North, Mr James Gunu, now Volta Regional Minister, subsequently petitioned the Ghana Highway Authority and the then National Road Safety Commission to intervene and address the situation.

Although speed ramps and road signs were later installed following investigations by the authorities, residents said the measures had not adequately resolved the problem.

They indicated that three additional deaths had been recorded after the intervention, while a staff member of the Ghana Education Service was also knocked down and killed two years ago while on her way to work.

The petition argued that the current road design contributes to reckless driving due to its width and therefore requires a more comprehensive and permanent solution through the construction of a dual carriageway.

The community further pointed out that the Ho-Denu road corridor passes through five district capitals – Ho, Agortime-Ziope, Akatsi North, Ketu North and Ketu South – and has been earmarked for rehabilitation.

However, they expressed concern that while four of the district capitals are reportedly being considered for dual carriageway development, Ave-Dakpa appears to have been left out of the project.

Describing the omission as unfair, the petitioners called on government and relevant stakeholders to reconsider the decision and extend the dual carriageway project to the Akatsi North District capital.

They maintained that such an intervention would not only improve road safety and reduce accidents but also boost socio-economic activities in the area.

“We respectfully seek clarification on this omission and urge stakeholders to reconsider their decision,” the petition stated.

The community said including Ave-Dakpa in the project would help address a long-standing public safety concern and ensure equitable infrastructure development within the district.

The petition was jointly endorsed by the Paramount Chief of the Ave-Dakpa Traditional Area, Torgbui Nyamekor Glakpe V and stakeholders in the town.

Copies of the petition were forwarded to the Regional Manager of the Ghana Highway Authority and the District Chief Executive of the Akatsi North District Assembly for their attention and necessary action.

 

 

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