FIJAI TAXI DRIVERS RAISE ALARM OVER DETERIORATING EFFIA-NKWANTA REGIONAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROAD
Commercial taxi drivers operating from the Fijai Taxi Station have expressed serious concerns over the poor condition of the emergency road linking Fijai Junction to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, describing it as hazardous and costly to vehicle maintenance.
The drivers, who regularly use the route to transport passengers between Fijai and Sekondi, say the deteriorated stretch of road has become a major challenge, particularly for emergency access to the hospital, the Fire Service, and other key public institutions in the area.
According to the drivers, parts of the road project previously awarded to Asabea Engineering and Construction Company Limited have been abandoned, leaving the road in a worsening state.
They indicated that continuous use of the road has resulted in frequent mechanical breakdowns, forcing many vehicles to spend heavily on repairs.
One driver told our Western Regional Correspondent, Benjamin Bray (Great Pablo), that despite repeated appeals to authorities, including the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Urban Roads Department, no significant intervention has been made to address the situation.
“We have reported the issue, and we were told that equipment would be deployed to make the road motorable, but nothing has been done. We are suffering every day,” he lamented.
Another driver expressed frustration over what they described as neglect by authorities, stating that although they participate in national elections, they do not see corresponding improvements in infrastructure.
The drivers are calling on government and relevant agencies to urgently rehabilitate the emergency road, stressing that its condition poses a serious risk to pregnant women, critically ill patients, and emergency responders who depend on it.
Meanwhile, some drivers have threatened to block the worst sections of the road if immediate action is not taken, although they say they prefer a peaceful resolution through engagement with authorities.
They further questioned the fate of road maintenance equipment reportedly stationed at the Assembly and Urban Roads Department, claiming the machinery has not been deployed for its intended purpose.
The drivers are urging the Metropolitan Assembly, Western Regional Minister, Members of Parliament, and other stakeholders to intervene swiftly to restore the road for safe and efficient use.
