Drip impact: Twins born on a road to hope at Dobung

A road long defined by hardship and isolation has brought two new lives to Dobung in the Kpandai District, renewing faith in the power of grassroots development to save lives.

Joy and disbelief swept through the community after a once-deadly farm road—now being reshaped and gravelled—became the unlikely birthplace of twin girls.

For years, the stony, flood-prone stretch linking Dobung to the district capital cut residents off from farms, schools and healthcare, especially during the rainy season.

That began to change when the District Chief Executive (DCE) deployed machinery under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) to rehabilitate the road.

Barely two days into the works—the first of its kind in years—the impact was felt.

Forced to deliver

A 32-year-old expectant mother, Cynthia Ndoonbi, went into labour while travelling to Kpandai Hospital on an aboboya tricycle. Improved access made the journey possible, but midway, she delivered twin girls on the road.

 Cynthia Ndoonbi (right) on her way to the hospital after delivering the twins

“I suffered throughout my pregnancy using this road for antenatal care,” she said.

“Today, that suffering has ended. My twins have brought relief to this community and to me.”

Her husband, Nchaabi Ndeela, recounted the tense moments.

“I was on the farm when I was told my wife was in labour. With no ambulance or vehicle available, the aboboya was the only option.

Because of the bad nature of the road, she was forced to deliver on the way. We thank God she delivered safely without medical assistance.”

Double blessings

Mr Ndeela said the ongoing road project—the first ever in the community—has brought “double blessings” and is good news for all to celebrate.

Beyond the dramatic birth, the reconstruction is already transforming daily life.

Gasere Justice, a Form Two pupil at the Don-Theobold Junior High School (JHS), described the intervention as timely.

“During the rainy season, we sometimes don’t go to school in Kpandai for weeks,” he said. 

“Absenteeism has affected us for years. We are happy work has begun and hope it will be completed before the next rains.”

A young farmer, Medando Bismark, could not hide his joy, describing the DCE as a listening leader.

“If the new DCE has remembered us in his development agenda, then he has brought life back to this community,” he said.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the DCE, Haruna Abdul-Karim, said the rehabilitation of roads at Nkanchina, Adukpechi and Dobung is being personally financed, with DRIP machinery being used to fast-track improvements.

He noted that Kpandai is a largely agricultural district and that many communities become inaccessible during the rains, undermining farming, healthcare, and education.

Describing the roadside delivery as symbolic, he said, “The birth of these twins on a road that only began rehabilitation yesterday shows the impact people have waited for.”

Mr Abdul-Karim praised the DRIP initiative as a game-changer for local road improvement and urged fellow MMDCEs to prioritise its use despite the costs.

“As a three-term assembly member and now DCE, I know our core challenges—roads, water, electricity and health.

While waiting for government allocations, I decided to personally fund these initiatives using DRIP,” he said.