Atlas Hills residents decry deplorable roads, demand urgent government action

The Anyaa Atlas Hills Homeowners and Residents Association, located within the Ga Central Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region, has made an urgent appeal to government authorities to fix the community’s dangerously deteriorated roads, which they say have become a daily nightmare for residents.

They described the six main access routes to Atlas Hills as “impassable,” with residents forced to navigate deep gullies and mud, especially during rainfall. 

At a press conference held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at the community lorry station (Last Stop), members of the Atlas Hills community voiced deep concern over three major challenges—deplorable roads, lack of potable water, and illegal encroachments which has led to the construction on some parts of demarcated public access roads.

They described these issues as grave threats to residents’ peace, safety, and overall well-being, calling for urgent and decisive government intervention.

While the address also highlighted the lack of potable water and illegal land encroachments, the Association emphasized that the road crisis poses the most immediate threat to safety, mobility, and community well-being.

The community members, clad in red attire and headbands while chanting war songs, carried placards bearing messages such as: “Roads are for progress, not profit,” “Tell us where we belong,” “Bad roads cost lives — repair them,” “Potholes are killing us, act with urgency,” “Respect planning laws — stop illegal structures on our roads,” “Our roads are shrinking — authorities must enforce the law,” “Our roads cannot be sold to developers,” “Protect our roads, Hon. Minister,” and “Answer our calls, MCE Mr. Allotey.”

Notable among the attendees were Nii Bankie Wilson, Chairman of the Association; Rev. Samuel Okoe Aryee, Vice Chairman; Philip Anguah, General Secretary; Benjamin Neequaye, Financial Secretary; Emmanuel Amoo, Organizer; Rexford Larwie, also an Organizer; and British resident John Watts Einstein.

Urgent road development

The Association lamented that despite decades of appeals and self-help efforts such as constructing bridges and streetlights, the community has received no direct road development support for over 50 years.

The organizer, Rexford Larwie, who addressed the media said the poor road conditions have already led to life-threatening incidents — including a medical emergency where an ambulance could not reach a patient, and a near tragedy involving a schoolboy who fell into a flooded gully.

"We stand before you, not in confrontation, but in a spirit of partnership and profound hope to advocate for the fundamental development and inherent dignity our community rightfully deserves. Atlas Hills, strategically nestled between Gbawe and Anyaa, is home to thousands of hardworking families, dedicated professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs who are unwavering in their commitment to building a peaceful, secure, and thriving community."

"Yet today, three critical and interconnected issues cast a long shadow over the peace, security, and well-being of every resident. These are not mere inconveniences, they are existential challenges demanding urgent and decisive action," he said.

Inclusion

They called on the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, to immediately include Atlas Hills in ongoing urban road development programmes and urged the Department of Urban Roads to conduct an urgent engineering assessment.

"Despite decades of systemic neglect, the residents of Atlas Hills have demonstrated remarkable resilience and proactive spirit. We have undertaken significant self-help projects, including constructing a community bridge, installing streetlights, and conducting essential road maintenance through tireless communal labor." 

"We have also diligently folowed administrative protocols, submitting multiple formal appeals to the Municipal Assembly, yet we have received no official response. Our efforts, though commendable, are repeatedly undone by each rainfall. For over 50 years, this community has received no direct government road development support."

The residents also questioned why communities are reportedly asked to fuel government-deployed DRIP machinery, calling for clarification from the National DRIP Coordinator.

"We respectfully ask the National DRIP Coordinator, Hon Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, for vital clarification: Is it indeed official govemment policy that communities are expected to bear the cost of fueling DRIP machines when they are deployed for govemment-mandated infrastructure projects? While we are committed to partnership, public support programs should not impose an undue financial burden on already struggling citizens."

Potable water

Additionally, they lamented that their community has been without potable water for over 50 years. Despite being just about 10 kilometers from the Weija Water Works, no Ghana Water Company pipelines have been laid in the area. 

The residents appealed to the Minister for Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, to urgently extend water supply infrastructure to Atlas Hills, describing access to safe water as a basic necessity and matter of survival.

"We therefore issue an earnest appeal to the Minister for Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, to intervene decisively. His mandate is vital for our very survival, as he holds direct oversight and directive authority over the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL)."

Illegal encroachment

Also, they raised alarm over the illegal sale and construction on portions of their designated public access roads, a situation they say has led to severe flooding and blocked vital routes. 

The community further reports that these encroachments are being protected by armed land guards who intimidate residents, creating fear and insecurity. 

They further called on the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Religious Affairs, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, to urgently intervene by directing municipal authorities to enforce planning laws, halt unauthorized developments, and restore the affected roads to public use.

The residents called for immediate action to stop all unauthorized developments, investigate and revoke illegal land allocations, restore public roads to their proper use, and ensure full protection of residents from intimidation and violence.

"We call emphatically on the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, to intervene immediately. His crucial role in our survival is to supervise the Municipal Chief Executives and the Assemblies, compelling them to rigorously enforce development control and spatial planning laws."

Collaborative efforts

Finally, the residents of Atlas Hills invited government officials, including key ministers and local authorities, to visit the community and witness their challenges firsthand. 

They expressed hope that such engagement will foster meaningful dialogue and collaborative efforts toward lasting solutions.

"Our plea today, as the Atlas Hills Homeowners and Residents Association, is clear and unequivocal: we seek peace, order, and sustainable development for our cherished community. We stand fully ready to support and collaborate with our honorable leaders." 

"However, we urgently need your decisive attention and concrete action on these three critical, interconnected issues: Roads. Water, and the unwavering Enforcement of Planning Laws."