By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Asonge (U/E), July 15, GNA – Residents of the Nabdam District have staged a demonstration to demand the immediate construction of the Asonge-Pelungu-Sekoti road, citing its deplorable condition and the hardship it continues to impose on communities.
The demonstrators marched through Asonge, Zanlerigu, Damolg-Tindongo through to Pelungu in the district before presenting a petition to President John Dramani Mahama through Mr Francis Yenwona Tobig, the District Chief Executive (DCE), calling for urgent government intervention.
The petition, read by Mr Albert Dok Dong, one of the convenors of the demonstration, said the poor state of the road had become a major obstacle to economic activities and access to healthcare, education and other essential social services.
It said the road was characterised by deep potholes, making vehicular movement extremely difficult, particularly during the rainy season.
The petition further indicated that the absence of proper drainage systems and culverts had worsened the situation, as floodwaters frequently washed away sections of the roads.
The petition said the district lacked tarred or properly graded roads, a situation they said had increased vehicle maintenance costs and transport fares.
According to the petition, farmers continued to struggle to transport their produce to markets, resulting in post-harvest losses and reduced incomes.
It also expressed concern over the difficulties faced by pregnant women, the elderly and critically ill patients in accessing healthcare facilities due to delays caused by the bad roads.
Businesses and traders, the petition added, were reluctant to operate in some communities because of the poor road infrastructure.
The petition appealed to the Government to prioritise the construction of the Asonge-Pelungu-Sakoti road, describing it as a major commercial route that served several communities in the district.
It also called for the allocation of a dedicated budget for the construction of community roads through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) or other government infrastructure programmes.
The residents further urged the Ghana Highway Authority and the Department of Feeder Roads to undertake an immediate technical assessment of the road to facilitate its construction.
It also appealed to the Government to include Nabdam in future road development projects in the Upper East Region and undertake routine maintenance works to ease the suffering of residents while awaiting full reconstruction.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the government, the DCE acknowledged the concerns raised by the residents, describing their demonstration as a legitimate way of drawing attention to the challenges confronting the district.
He said the Asonge-Pelungu-Sakoti road was a concern shared by the Assembly and the Member of Parliament for the area, adding that efforts had already been made to get the road fixed.
According to him, consultancy works had been completed on the road and the project had been submitted for consideration, with the next major step being its inclusion in the national budget for funding.
He assured the residents that the Assembly would continue to engage the relevant authorities to ensure that the road was constructed, stressing that the government was committed to addressing the concerns raised in the petition.
He urged residents not to see the temporary maintenance works as a substitute for the main project but rather as an interim measure to ease travel while the Assembly pursued a permanent solution.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
[email protected]