Some concern citizens of Nangode and Yakote in the Nabdam district of the Upper East Region have called for an immediate repair of parts of the Nangodi-Pelungu road which has been badly damaged and posing a death threat to commuters and residents whiles hampering economic activities in the district.
The 7 km road has been in a deplorable state and virtually becoming inaccessible by the day. Some two portions of the stretch have degenerated to a state that is extremely dangerous to users of the road.
One portion of the road has been damaged after a tunnel was created beneath the road as a result of illegal mining activities also known as galamsey. It is feared that this portion of the road may cave in at a point in time or when a heavy vehicle exerts wait on it. The second damaged part of the road is a collapsed bridge that has caved in and almost invisible to motorist especially at night. The collapse of the bridge compelled residents to create a diversion using stones for vehicles to use. The setting in of rains has rendered the diversion impassable due to high flow of water.
The current undesirable situation has caused worry and fear in residents and users of the road that connects Nangode, Kongo and other surrounding communities to Pelungu which is the district commercial center.
In a petition to the Upper East Regional Minister by the concern citizens of Nangode and Yakote, the group said “The entire road which is about 7 km is in a very deplorable state but the two major portions of the damaged road at Soliga, and the completely broken Yakote bridge need urgent attention. These portions of the road has caused many accidents and is hindering the movement of people and goods to and from Pelungu market, and students and teachers at the Kongo Senior High School. These affect access to health care, education and endangers the lives of children, pregnant women and people living with disabilities in the district, particularly the residents of Nangodi, Yakote and Pelungu.”
While commending the National Democratic Congress government for giving Nabdam a district status and other development initiatives in the area of education and health, the group added that an immediate response is needed to fix the road in order to avert loss of lives and stagnation of economic activities.
“Whilst drawing your attention to this life threatening situation, we would first of all seize this opportunity to thank the NDC government for the various development interventions going on in the Nabdam District in the areas of health, education and agriculture. The creation of the Nabdam District by His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills which has sped up development in the area is worth mentioning” the petition said.
Addressing the press and youth of the area, youth leader Michael Zure said the decision to petition the upper east regional minister was arrived at following several unfulfilled promises to fix the road which is now in a life threatening state. He noted that the decision is to complement the effort of the Member of Parliament and District Chief Executive of the area who have also expressed worry about the situation and made follow ups at the feeder roads department to get the road repaired.
Mr. Zure said “We believe that the regional minister can use his good office to get this road worked on. Even if the entire road cannot be worked on now, we want the two badly damaged portions repaired in the meantime. We are all at risk and should not wait to bury some brothers and sisters before something is done.”
A former presiding member of the Nabdam district assembly Hon. Francis Wongnab said the broken bridge has been in the current state for close to a decade and hence accessibility to health facilities and the Pelungu market has been hindered as a result of the life threatening situation on the road.
But speaking to Azongo Albert on Day Break Upper East Wednesday, Member of Parliament of Nabdam Hon. Boniface Gambilla said the Nangode-Pelungu road is only one of the many roads in the district that need to be repaired. According to him, work on the roads in the district stalled after the ruling National Democratic Congress suspended all ongoing projects in the country after the 2008 general elections. He noted that the road was awarded on contract in 2008 to construction firm called ARACO constructions. Though the construction firm was scheduled to construct the Pelungu-Asonge road, the broken bridge on the Nangode-Pelungu road was added to the contractor to repair. Work on the roads stopped when all projects across the country were suspended and till now there has not been a lifting of the suspension of the construction.
He added that he prevailed on the department of feeder roads to make a recommendation to the ministry of roads for a lifting of the suspension on the roads to allow for work to resume. But feeder roads after an examination of the road have said that the 7km stretch will be awarded on contract for construction and this he noted might mean that the situation may remain as it is until the road is awarded on contract.
Hon. Gambilla further stated that he has put a question before the roads minister in parliament on the suspension of work on the road and the matter will be responded to by the roads minister when parliament reconvenes after recess.
“Today there is a question by me in parliament to the minister to answer why the ban has not been lifted and Nabdam roads are still bad. I understand the speaker of parliament has sent the question to the minister for roads and he is preparing to answer the question when parliament resumes” he added.
Find Below the Petition by Concern Citizens of Nangode and Yakoti
C/O Nangodi Junior High School
P. O. Box 118
Bolgatanga – U. E. R
September 22, 2015
THE UPPER EAST REGIONAL MINISTER
REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL
BOLGATANGA
THROUGH:
THE DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
NABDAM DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
NANGODI
PETITION FOR THE REPAIR OF DAMAGED NANGODI-PELUNGU ROAD
We the concern citizens of Nangodi and Yakote wish to draw your attention to the badly damaged Nangodi-Pelungu road which now serves as a death-trap to people plying the road for your action.
Whilst drawing your attention to this life threatening situation, we would first of all seize this opportunity to thank the NDC government for the various development interventions going on in the Nabdam District in the areas of health, education and agriculture. The creation of the Nabdam District by His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills which has sped up development in the area is worth mentioning.
As we commend government for the good intentions in creating the Nabdam District, the very bad nature of this road which is the major road linking the district capital to Kongo Senior High School and to the district commercial centre, Pelungu is a source of great worry to us, as it is negatively affecting lives, businesses, education, health and agriculture.
The entire road which is about 7 km is in a very deplorable state but the two major portions of the damaged road at Soliga, and the completely broken Yakote bridge need urgent attention. These portions of the road has caused many accidents and is hindering the movement of people and goods to and from Pelungu market, and students and teachers at the Kongo Senior High School. These affect access to health care, education and endangers the lives of children, pregnant women and people living with disabilities in the district, particularly the residents of Nangodi, Yakote and Pelungu. Farmers are also going through untold hardships for over nine (9) years now, as it is difficult for them to cart their farm produce from the farms to their houses and also to and from the Pelungu market which is the major business centre of the Nabdam District.
The state of the road has since 2007 been a burden on us and all we have received for the past nine (9) years from government officials has been vain promises. We are afraid, if nothing is done immediately, apart from the economic effects, the daily accidents recorded could increase and precious lives lost.
We are therefore appealing to you, the Honourable Regional Minister to come to the aid of the residents of the area by using your good offices to put the road in order. If the entire road cannot be fixed immediately, then the major damaged portions of the road should be repaired as soon as possible to give a temporal relief to the residents and users of the road.
Thank you.
cc:
The Paramount Chief of Nangodi Traditional Area
Hon. Boniface Gambila, MP For Nabdam Constituency
The Feeder Roads Engineer
Signatories:
Signed
1. Michael Zuri 0207519606
2. Francis Wongnab
3. Benjamin Tenga
4. Justice Dagbeng
5. Richmond Bugre
6. Isaac Babilah
By: Azongo Albert | A1RADIOONLINE.COM | GHANA
