DEPLORABLE ROADS IN UPPER EAST CRY FOR HELP (PAGE 42, SEPT 27, 2010)

FOR some months now, the Upper East Region has enjoyed good rains. The downpours coupled with the opening of the sluice gates of the Bagre Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso, have resulted in the swelling of most streams and rivers.
The situation has led to some deaths and damage to tonnes of farm produce, which are most regrettable.
Aside the destruction, the rains have exposed the bad road network in the region, especially the regional capital, Bolgatanga. The plight of the people has worsened due to the pot-hole dotted roads, some of which have developed into gullies, that collect large volumes of water anytime it rains.
The situation has made driving and general movement very uncomfortable for vehicle owners.
One common sight that greets a visitor to the regional capital is the difficulty with which drivers struggle to manoeuvre to dodge the pot-holes.
The roads in the central business area of the regional capital have developed deep pot-holes.
The road from the SSNIT flats junction through the front of the Ghana Commercial Bank to the Central mosque area, as well as the road stretching from the black star hotel through the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) area, down to the total fuel station area, have all deteriorated.
Others such as the Bolgatanga-Zuarungu-Kongo road, which is part of the Bolgatanga-Bawku trunk road, are unmotorable.
A number of residents this reporter spoke to the state of roads in the Bolgatanga Municipality expressed concern about the poor road network in the municipality.
Some of the respondents said they had to contend with vehicles which splash water on them in an attempt to dodge the large pot-holes on the streets.
They, therefore, called on the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to take realistic measures to ensure that the numerous pot-holes are filled to save them the drudgery in using the roads.
When contacted, the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Mr Epsona Ayamga, said the assembly had designed a special programme to patch up the pot-holes that had developed on the roads in the municipality.
According to him, the contract had been awarded to a contractor to carry out the rehabilitation, and appealed to the residents to bear with the situation as steps were being taken to repair the roads.
Mr Ayamga, however, gave the assurance that the road rehabilitation would be completed on schedule before the regional capital hosts a durbar to climax the region’s golden jubilee celebration later this month.
In the case of the Bolgatanga-Zuarungu-Kongo road which is part of the Bolgatanga-Bawku trunk road, the Regional Maintenance Engineer of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mr Paul Bortieh, said it had been awarded on contract for spot improvement.
Perhaps what the authorities can do is to ensure that whoever is carrying out the work is made to fast-track the job to save travellers the pain of using that road. The “mini-dams” created right in the centre of the road at Zanlerigu must be covered to prevent vehicles from getting stuck in them.
As the region is celebrating 50 years of its creation, it is time the deplorable road network is improved, considering the benefit and importance of good road network to the economy of the region.
In an interview with the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said early this year, he gave the assurance that the implementation of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) by the government would facilitate the up-grading of roads in the region.
He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council was also liaising with the Ministry of Roads and agencies under it to fashion out a plan to repair roads in the Bolgatanga Municipality.
The people of the region have been told that under SADA, major roads linking food producing areas in the region have been earmarked either for construction or rehabilitation and it is the hope of the people that the promises are fulfilled.
The road network in the Upper East Region, which is celebrating its golden jubilee, is nothing to write home about. The earlier something concrete is done about the deplorable roads, the better it will be for the entire residents.