Osudoku residents protest deplorable roads; Lack of market for local rice
Mr Sai said the lack of a market for locally produced rice was the most pressing challenge facing the area.
Hundreds of residents from Asutsuare, Akuse and neighboring communities in the Shai-Osudoku District came together to protest on Tuesday. Organized by the Osudoku Youth Association (OYA), the peaceful demonstration marched through the main streets of Asutsuare to Akuse, bringing a petition to President John Dramani Mahama. Carrying signs with slogans like "Save Osudoku Rice Farmers," "Fix Our Roads Now," and "Complete Our Projects," demonstrators expressed their concerns over the deteriorating road conditions, the collapse of the local rice market, and the stalled Kpong Irrigation Scheme Rehabilitation Project.
Mr. Richard Nii Sai, the Chairman of OYA, explained that the people of Osudoku strongly supported President Mahama during the 2024 election after he promised to prioritize the district's development. He highlighted that despite producing abundant rice since 2025, thousands of bags remain unsold due to competition from imported rice in the local market.
The protesters appealed to the government to protect the local rice industry and purchase the stockpile to prevent financial losses for farmers. They also expressed concern over the poor state of several roads in the area, which increases transportation costs, delays healthcare access, and causes significant losses for farmers. Another issue raised was the abandonment of Phase Two of the Kpong Irrigation Scheme Rehabilitation Project, which has left over 300 farmers unable to cultivate more than 600 hectares of farmland for the past two years, threatening jobs and food security.
The demonstrators called for the completion of the Asutsuare Market project, the immediate distribution of government-subsidized fertilizers to over 2,400 farmers, and the completion of public toilet facilities in several communities. They emphasized that their protest was peaceful and in line with Ghana's constitution, and expressed hope that the President would swiftly address the seven development challenges faced by the Osudoku Traditional Area.
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