Residents of Nyania in the Nyania/Babile Electoral Area of the Kassena-Nankana West District have expressed gratitude to Mr Wenawome Aborah Duriyem, a philanthropist, for constructing a culvert over a stream that had for years posed a major challenge to movement within the community.
The stream, which overflows during the rainy season, often became impassable, cutting off residents from the district capital, Paga, and limiting access to the district hospital, markets, schools and other essential services.
For years, the situation forced residents, motorists and farmers to either use longer alternative routes or suspend their journeys altogether whenever heavy rains caused the stream to overflow its banks.
Children often struggled to get to school, patients found it difficult to access healthcare, while farmers faced challenges transporting their produce to markets.
The newly constructed culvert is expected to ease transportation challenges, improve access to social services and boost economic activities in the community.
Residents described the project as a lifesaving intervention that had significantly improved movement within the area.
Ms Alhassan Veronica, a resident and agricultural extension officer, said the absence of a proper crossing point made life difficult for community members, especially during heavy rains.
“When it rained, people could not cross. Motorists had to park their motorcycles and continue on foot, while drivers were forced to use alternative routes. Some residents simply stayed indoors because movement became impossible,” she said.
According to her, the situation also affected access to healthcare and markets.
“If someone was sick during the rainy season, it was very difficult to transport the person to a health facility. Farmers also struggled to move their produce to the market, especially those with large quantities,” she said.
She explained that the road served as an important link between the community and Paga, where residents accessed the district hospital, schools and the main market.
Ms Veronica commended Mr Duriyem for the intervention, saying it had prevented further hardship and possible migration from the community.
“May God richly bless him. If he had not done this, we do not know what would have happened. Some people might even have relocated because of the difficulties,” she said.
Ms Augustina Averu, another resident, said residents previously parked their motorcycles and vehicles on one side of the crossing and walked through the flooded area before continuing their journeys.
“Access was not easy, especially when it rained. But now things have become much easier for us. We are very grateful for what Mr Aborah has done for the community,” she said.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Duriyem said the project was motivated by the persistent difficulties residents faced every rainy season, adding “We have lived in this community for a long time and each time it rains, it becomes very difficult for people to enter or leave the community.
“Children struggle to go to school, the elderly fall while trying to cross, and vehicles and motorbikes often get stuck,” he said.
He explained that although community members had on several occasions attempted to mobilise resources to address the challenge, progress had been slow, prompting him to take up the project.
He said: “We started by constructing the culvert and later improved the road with gravel. It may not be everything we wanted to do, but it is a significant step towards addressing a longstanding challenge facing the community.
“Government cannot do everything alone. Individuals must also contribute their quota towards improving their communities because, in the end, we are the ones who benefit from such developments.”