The Chiefs and people of the Dodome Traditional Area in the Ho West District of the Volta Region have lamented the deplorable state of access roads in the area.

According to them, the state of the roads is affecting every aspect of their socioeconomic life, from education to healthcare to trading among others.

They are hoping the government would resume construction of the 4-kilometer road connecting Dzologborgame to Kpedze, which stretched through 4 Dodome settlements.

The Dodome Traditional Area comprises six divisions located southwest of the district.

Residents here are predominantly farmers, leading to the area contributing significantly to the country’s food basket.

They are, however, they are faced with a major setback of bad access roads in the enclave, derailing their efforts to transport food from the farm gate to the markets.

Over 70% of the about 4 kilometers road network has developed potholes, with the bitumen wearing off at some sections.

Emmanuel Awotse, a commercial driver, who was transporting the news team suffered a damaged tire in the course of the journey.

He said that drivers often experience burst tires and frequently visit the mechanic due to the state of the road.

“Because of the bad nature of the roads, we suffer this predicament. We spend money on tyres because they mostly get damaged. We are just pleading with the President to construct the road for us.

“The Volta Region has heavily supported the NDC and we should have good roads to transport our crops to market and sick to the hospitals as payback for our unflinching support”, he added.

Addressing the 2025 Dodome Agadzi Festival, the Paramount Chief for Dodome, Togbe Kpangbatriku IV, reiterated a cry of his subjects for the roads to be fixed.

“I wish to appeal to our Special Guest of Honour, the District, Regional, and National Authorities to do something urgently about the deplorable feeder road linking our four communities on the other side of the mountain range to the main roads at Dzolo Gbogame and Kpedze.”

“Not only the deplorable state of the road impede the problem of carting foodstuffs to the markets but also make day students of Kpedze and Dzolo Senior High Schools get to school late because they have to trek to school”, he said.

The Ho West District Chief Executive, Profer Francis Dusey responded swiftly to the issues raised about the poor state of Dodome access roads, assuring that the government would resume and complete works on the road network.

“The previous John Mahama government almost completed works on the roads before Ghanaians ousted the NDC from power. The Akufo-Addo-led government abandoned the project during its 8-year administration and the roads deteriorated.

“But I want to assure Togbe and the people of Dodome that we are working on resuming work on the road. The road would not remain in the same state by the end of 2026”, he said.

The Volta Regional National Democratic Congress Chairman, Mawutor Agbavitor, also promised to lobby the government to harness development to the area.

“I have heard your requests through the chairman of the occasion. So when he lobbies through one side, I will also lobby through the other side and ensure the state of the roads is uplifted to a befitting status”, he said.