For the people of Ayanfuri in Ghana’s Upper Denkyira West District, breathing clean air has become a daily struggle.
The unpaved road linking the town to Dunkwa-on-Offin has sat neglected for years, kicking up thick clouds of dust with every passing vehicle. Now, health officials say that dust is making residents sick – and the problem is getting worse.
Medical officers at the local Pentecost Hospital are seeing a clear spike in eye infections and upper respiratory problems directly tied to the dusty conditions. Patients arrive complaining of persistent coughs, red and irritated eyes, and constant discomfort that affects everything from sleeping to working.Local trader Auntie Ama, who runs a small shop right beside the road, knows the pain too well. “Off late I’ve been having issues with my eyes. I struggle to sleep and also experience coughs,” she told Citi News on Friday, April 3. “I’ve even had to close my shop down because the dust is unbearable.”Her story echoes across the community.
Families say the dust is ruining their health and their livelihoods. Daily routines have become exhausting as the fine red particles fill the air, settle on food, and irritate eyes and lungs.
Health workers confirm the trend is no coincidence. Felix Larbie, Administrator of Pentecost Hospital in Ayanfuri, explained: “Patients present eye infections that may be linked to the dust.
Lie-in patients in most cases develop upper respiratory infections due to the dust.”The effects are reaching beyond homes and shops.
At Ayanfuri Senior High School, some teachers have asked for transfers because the harsh, dusty environment has become too difficult to work in. Student enrolment has also dropped as worried parents look for better options elsewhere.Frustration is boiling over.
Assemblyman for Ayanfuri, Anin Castro, pointed fingers at years of broken promises from politicians. “In the first term of the erstwhile NDC government they awarded the road on contract.
The NPP did same in both their two terms but the contractors abandoned the project. We were hopeful this NDC government would have included it in the Big Push projects but they didn’t,” he said.Member of Parliament Rudolph Amoako Gyampah is equally unhappy.
He questioned why the road remains untouched even though the government announced that funds had already been released to the contractor. The stretch is no minor path – it serves as a vital corridor connecting the Ashanti, Western and Western North regions.
When it stays dusty and unfinished, it hurts trade, transport and public health for thousands of people.Residents and local leaders are now renewing urgent calls for action.
They want the road properly tarred without further delay, contractors held accountable, and immediate steps taken to reduce the dust before more people fall ill. Health authorities agree the situation has become a real public health concern that can no longer be ignored.
For the hardworking people of Ayanfuri, the dusty road is more than just bad infrastructure. It is a constant cloud hanging over their daily lives – affecting children’s education, traders’ incomes, teachers’ morale and everyone’s breathing. After years of waiting and repeated political assurances, the community is demanding that this time the promises are finally kept.
The message from Ayanfuri is loud and clear: the dust is not just an inconvenience – it is making people sick. Urgent action is needed now to fix the road, clear the air, and give residents back their health and dignity.