DBI Roads Remain Unfixed After 2021 Floods, Causing Inconvenience and Deaths
The Member of Parliament for the Dafiama Busie Issa constituency, Hon. Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, has expressed his disappointment with the central government for reneging on its promise to fix roads that were destroyed during the September 2021 floods.
These floods resulted in the destruction of numerous homes, farms, and roads.
He voiced his concerns during a tour of some affected communities in the DBI constituency on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
He accused the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwesi Amoako Arthur, and the Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, for using a helicopter to view some areas from the air but criticized them for not visiting the affected regions in person.
The MP further noted that he had taken steps to draw the attention of major stakeholders, including the District Chief Executive, the Department of Feeder Roads, and the Minister of Roads and Highways.
He stated, “The minister assured me in parliament in 2021 that the road would be fixed in two weeks, but it’s been two years now, and nothing has been done.”
Dr. Sebastian Sandaare emphasized the significance of the Dafiama through Saanwie to Gbare road in the Jirapa district, which was split in two due to the flood.
He remarked, “To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think any government official has come to this area to see what happened and the plight of commuters.” He mentioned that two lives have been lost since the incident, and on a weekly basis, lives continue to be lost.
The Hon. MP for DBI underscored the importance of the road for the daily activities of the people, which have become nearly impossible. This includes the inability of children to attend school, challenges in accessing healthcare, and impediments to agricultural activities and commerce.
Some of the residents in the area shared their experiences. Grace Anataba explained that when it rains for days, their children can’t go to school, and women are unable to go to the market in Dafiama to trade. She stated that it has had a negative impact on their livelihoods.
Another community member, Cletus Sandaare from Dakyie, mentioned that he has been helping children cross the broken portion to get to school. He further indicated that when the water levels rise, he is also unable to assist the children in crossing to and from school.
The community members are therefore calling on the government to come to their aid by fixing the road.
By Albert Dapare
Home Radio News
