Stalled Bolgatanga-Sherigu-Naaga road project: Residents urge government to resume construction in 10 days

Residents of Sherigu in the Bolgatanga Municipality have expressed their displeasure over the undue delay in the execution of the Bolgatanga-Sherigu-Naaga road project.

They have, therefore, called on all key stakeholders including the Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye to immediately intervene so that the contractor, ARACO Construction Limited, returns to the site to complete the project.

They have also given the government and the contractor a 10-day ultimatum to take decisive action, adding that if the contractor fails to come back to the site, they would have no choice but to organise a mammoth protest.

Press conference

Addressing a press conference on behalf of the residents last Thursday, the Assembly member for the Kumbilingo Electoral Area, Stephen Akugre, urged the government to ensure that the contractor returned to the site to complete the project before the end of December 2024.

In 2018, the government awarded the contract to ARACO Construction Limited for the construction of the 30.85-kilometre road. After five years, the project has not been completed although it was expected to be completed within 24 months.

Currently, the contractor is not on site, leading to further deterioration of the road and its negative consequences on the lives of the people.
Mr Akugre said residents were tired of the empty promises and unnecessary delay of the road project, stating, “We believe it is time for the government to hold the contractor accountable for the completion of the project.”

He added that the people of Sherigu, Naaga, Tanzui, Zorbisi, Sokabisi and other surrounding communities would no longer tolerate any further delays in the execution of the much-awaited road project.

Supply of cereals

Mr Akugre, who is also the Presiding Member (PM) of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, stated that the people of Bolga-Sherigu and Naaga were known for the supply of cereals and other farm produce to the entire Bolgatanga Municipality.

He lamented that the poor state of the road had made it nearly impossible for the residents to cart their produce to market centres, thereby making it impossible to sustain the economic activities of the people.

In addition to the road’s role in promoting trade and commerce, he said it also served as a major route, through which patients are transported to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital to receive medical care.

“The road is currently in a deplorable state, making life unbearable for thousands of residents who use it on a daily basis,” he said, stressing that “the failure to complete the road project has had far-reaching negative impact on the people.”

Further, he expressed worry that the dusty nature of the road, especially in the dry season had led to an increase in respiratory diseases among the residents due to their constant exposure to dust.

Some residents, in an interview, said the deplorable nature of the road had made it very difficult for them to cross to other parts of the community and, therefore, urged the government to treat the issue as an emergency to bring relief to the people.

“With the onset of the rains, coupled with the bad state of the road, it has become a huge challenge for us to access our farms to transport our farm produce to the market for sale,” they said.

Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh