Flooded roads disrupt lives and businesses in Sagnarigu

Several communities with poor road networks are struggling with flooded roads following rains in the northern part of Ghana.

This has led to the destruction of businesses, disruption of daily activities, delays, absenteeism from work and school, and difficulty accessing emergency services.

Many of these challenges stem from roads that are either unconstructed, in deplorable condition, or lacking proper drainage systems to contain floodwaters.

One such community is Tunayili in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region, where unconstructed roads become flooded whenever it rains, hindering movement and bringing daily activities to a halt.

A key example is the road linking Tunayili Last Stop to the Islamic Senior High School, which gets inundated daily, further worsening the situation.

The Sagnarigu Municipality has a total road network of about 50,000 kilometers, but only an estimated 500 kilometers are in good condition.

Many roads are impassable, especially during the rainy season.

As a peri-urban area, most newly developed areas in the municipality lack open roads.

Additionally, only 22.5 per cent of the roads are fitted with streetlights, making them unsafe to use at night.

There is a pressing need to open more roads, improve drainage, and upgrade the current road network.

Kamaldeen Mohammed, a resident of Tunayili, shared his frustrations with Graphic Online.

“This road has been in this condition for about 15 years with no reshaping or construction, not even drains. We are suffering here. Just yesterday, my younger sister was very ill, and we needed an ambulance, but due to the flooded road, it was difficult to get emergency services.”

He emphasised that the community has been neglected by the government and politicians for too long.

Another resident, Barbara Yakubu, highlighted how the flooding has affected her business: “I came to open my shop but found the area flooded, so I decided to lock up and go home. It’s been raining for four days, and no one seems to care. If the road was constructed with proper drainage, this wouldn’t happen. My shop contributes to the economy, but if I don’t work, my family suffers, and I’ll struggle to repay loans.”

She pleaded with the government, the Sagnarigu Assembly, and Urban Roads to urgently address the situation.

Students are also feeling the brunt of the flooding. Asana Ibrahim, a student at the Institute of Business Management and Journalism, explained how the flooded roads are causing them to miss classes. “We were supposed to have lectures at 8 AM, but it’s already noon, and we’re still struggling to get to school. We now spend about GH₵15 daily on alternative routes using tricycles, which adds to our financial burden.”

The consistent flooding has become a source of frustration for residents, who are calling for immediate government intervention to fix their roads and prevent further disruptions to their lives and livelihoods.