The Member of Parliament (MP) for Suhum Constituency, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, has raised concerns on the floor of Parliament over the stalled construction of the Gariba Zongo–Otwebediadua–Adarkwa–Ntunkum road, a key route linking several farming communities within the Municipality in the Eastern Region.

Frank Asiedu Bekoe, also known in political circles as Protozoa, questioned the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, about the current state of the project, which has been left incomplete despite its importance to local transportation and economic activity.

The inquiry took place during Thursday’s parliamentary proceedings presided over by the First Deputy Speaker.

Responding to the question, the Roads and Highways Minister provided detailed background information on the project. He explained that the affected road network — which includes the Gariba Zongo, Otwebediadua, Adarkwa, and Ntunkum stretches — forms part of the Suhum–Nankese feeder road system.

The Minister noted that the road, an engineered communal surface dressing type, is currently in a poor state, having suffered significant deterioration over time.

According to Kwame Agbodza, the rehabilitation and surfacing of the 10-kilometer Suhum–Nankese Feeder Road, Phase 1, was awarded on September 30, 2024, under a contract titled Bituminous Surfacing of Suhum–Nankese Feeder Road. The project was expected to be completed by November 29, 2022, but progress stalled despite achieving about 72 percent physical completion.

He disclosed that the contractor had abandoned the site due to delayed payment for work already executed.

“Efforts are being made to get the contractor back on site to complete the outstanding works,” Kwame Agbodza assured the House.

However, the Suhum MP expressed dissatisfaction, drawing attention to worsening conditions along some sections, particularly from Adarkwa to Oshimiri and Ntunkum, which he said had deteriorated due to incomplete surfacing.

He noted that the contractor only applied a first coat of bitumen in some areas, leaving them vulnerable to erosion and making travel unsafe for residents.

In a light but firm exchange, the Roads Minister advised Frank Asiedu Bekoe to focus on issues within his constituency, reiterating that some of the roads mentioned had been completed while others remained under construction.

“As I said earlier, efforts are being made to ensure the contractor returns to site to finish the remaining scope of works,” the Minister reiterated.

Frank Asiedu Bekoe, in his closing remarks, expressed gratitude for the Minister’s response but urged swift action to relieve the suffering of motorists and residents who rely on the Gariba Zongo–Adarkwa–Ntunkum stretch for daily commuting and transport of goods.

The Suhum–Nankese road corridor remains one of the Region’s key feeder routes, serving as a vital link between several rural communities and the main Suhum township.

Its completion is expected to enhance local economic activities, improve access to markets, and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce from hinterland areas to urban centers.