Residents of the Kintampo North and South Constituencies in the Brong Ahafo Region say their roads have become death traps maiming travelers without end.

They say their incessant complaints to their leaders to have the roads fixed have gone attended to.

Beyond all doubts, they are convinced the nature of their road network will matter in their choice of candidate in the upcoming polls.

The Kintampo North and South roads have recorded a consistent spate of road carnage since the start of 2016.

At least more than 53 people died on Wednesday, February 17 when a Metro Mass Transit (MMT) bus heading to Tamale collided with a truckload of tomatoes heading south.

Statistics show that at least close to 200 travelers have lost their lives from January to August 2016 as they journey to various destinations through Kintampo.

Residents say the failure of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to address the issue will play out in the decision leading to their preferred candidate in the December polls.

Out of over 3,48 people who voted on the issues presented by the Joy Ballot Box team, the residents of Kintampo North, South and Techiman singled roads as the most important thing for them that would determine their voting preference.

In Kintampo South:

Thirty-two residents said roads was a priority for them followed closely by 30 others who said jobs would inform their choice of whom to vote for. Nineteen people found market/trade as voting determinant while 12 persons voted water as the most important issue for them. Eight people regarded health and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as important with six others voting for boosting the local economy.

Regarding the recent microfinance scandal in the Region where companies like Diamond Capital (DKM) and God is Love duped residents thousands of cedis, the residents say a presidential/parliamentary candidate who will help them retrieve and end the issue will win their vote.

In Kintampo North:

On roads at least thirty-seven people voted for the issue, and next followed by Trades which was fifteen, Microfinance six, disqualified voters six, security three, education two, chieftaincy one, and Health/NHIS one.

In Techiman South:

Residents of Techiman South say Jobs which recorded twenty-nine votes will be crucial in their decision. They say the candidate who will help the teeming unemployed youth to be gainfully employed will emerge the winner in the election.

The rest of the issues were; local economy nineteen, education nine, roads six, corruption five, health/NHIS four, apathy four, and Microfinance one.

NDC parliamentary candidate for Kintampo North, Kwesi Etu-bonde, in his response to the nature of the road, promised to facilitate work on them.

He said as an MP come 2017, he will opt to join Parliament’s Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs to push the interest of Kintampo North residents.

As a member of the Committee which superintends over the Cocoa Fund, he promised to ensure that part of the Fund will be used to address the road situation in the area.

Parliamentary Candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), George Mensah, said he is conversant with the challenges of the people regarding the roads and when given the mandate he will move in quickly to solve them.

He said it has been long since a major work was done on the road, saying, it is important to commence work on them.

“I am looking at the roads and highway and how to tackle them because they go beyond the municipal assembly and there is the need to get assistance from the central government,” he said.

Explaining his plans for the residents, parliamentary candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Sumaila Ibrahim, said his plans will not be any different from the grand objective of the party’s founder and presidential candidate, Papa Kwesi Nduom. 

Dr Nduom has promised to expand the entire nation's road network if voted into power in December.

The reaction of the people showed they remain unconvinced till someone suggests something relevant to their peculiar situation.

The Joy Ballot Box program is sponsored by STAR-Ghana and is funded by DFID, DANIDA and the European Commission.