- Farmers protest unpaid compensation for destroyed properties.
- Protesters block bypass construction, halting work.
- Government fails to pay compensation after a year.
- Protest disrupts highway project, causing delays.
Dozens of armed police personnel have been deployed to the Asiakwa to Bunso bypass construction site to contain a protest by aggrieved farmers and landowners.
The protesters, comprising peasant farmers and landowners from Akyem Asiakwa and Bunso, staged a demonstration on Thursday, demanding immediate compensation from the government for the destruction of their properties.
The government’s failure to compensate them for their losses has left them struggling to survive, with many yet to receive any form of compensation despite promises made over a year ago.
The protesters blocked the roads at the construction site, bringing mats and cooking utensils to demonstrate their readiness to sleep at the site until their demands were met.
Some protesters were even spotted cooking at the roadside, highlighting their determination to stay put until their concerns were addressed.
The contractors on-site, including First Sky and Justmoh Company, were forced to halt work due to the protest, with the protesters vowing to remain at the site until their demands were met.
The bypass construction is part of the ongoing Accra-Kumasi highway dualization project, aimed at easing traffic congestion along the busy highway.
However, the affected farmers and landowners argue that the government’s failure to compensate them has left them in dire straits, with many struggling to find alternative accommodation and means of livelihood.
The project, initiated over a year ago, includes four major bypass roads and is intended to eliminate traffic bottlenecks in towns along the highway.
The protesters’ demands for compensation remain unmet, leaving them with no choice but to continue their protest until their concerns are addressed.
