Kofinyamekrom Residents Disappointed as Community-Funded Road Works Fall Short of Expectations
Farmers and residents of Kofinyamekrom, a rural farming community in the Atwima Mponua District, are voicing deep frustration over the poor state of their local road network, despite significant financial and material contributions they made toward its improvement.
The community had initially raised funds to help construct a school block. However, recognizing the urgent need to make the road passable, especially during the rainy season, they redirected those resources to support road reshaping under the government’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP). Residents provided money, fuel, and other logistics to enable machinery to work on critical sections of the road.
Obaapanin Adwoa Boaduwaa, the Queen Mother of Kofinyamekrom, has expressed particular disappointment with the results of the exercise. She highlighted her personal sacrifices, including taking out a loan to keep the work going, only to find the finished road far below acceptable standards.
“We initially intended to contribute towards the construction of a school. However, after the funds were raised, we realised the road also needed urgent attention, so the focus shifted to fixing it. We were even asked to purchase fuel for the work. In total, we gave them GH¢20,000, but the machine was on site for only three days,” she recounted.
When residents questioned the limited progress, the contractors reportedly returned briefly. Eventually, they informed the community that the funds had run out. Determined to see the road improved, the Queen Mother personally secured a loan to allow the work to resume.
“After they eventually said the work was completed, I used the road myself but I was not satisfied with the condition. I therefore want them to return to the site and properly fix the road,” she stated.
The Queen Mother emphasized that the substandard work has left the community in the same difficult situation, with the road remaining largely impassable during heavy rains and hindering access to markets, schools, and health facilities.
Residents say the experience has eroded trust in the implementation of the DRIP initiative in their area and renewed calls for greater transparency, accountability, and quality control in such community-supported projects.
The deplorable road conditions continue to affect daily life and economic activities in Kofinyamekrom, underscoring broader challenges faced by many rural communities in accessing reliable infrastructure despite local efforts and government programmes
