UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
As frequent users of the Tamale–Bolgatanga Highway, we are deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of this vital road corridor, which serves as the main transportation link between Northern Ghana, the Upper East Region, The North East Region and to Burkina Faso.
The condition of the highway has become alarming. What were once potholes have now developed into dangerous craters and manholes, posing a serious threat to motorists and passengers. The situation has become so severe that it is no longer advisable for unfamiliar road users to travel on this stretch after 5:00 p.m., when visibility is reduced and the risk of accidents increases significantly.
Sadly, road crashes on this highway have become increasingly rampant, affecting both private and commercial drivers. The poor state of the road has transformed what used to be a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour journey into a frustrating and exhausting trip of three hours or more.
Beyond the inconvenience to travelers, the deteriorating road is negatively affecting healthcare delivery. The transportation of critically ill patients from the Upper East and North East Regions to the Tamale Teaching Hospital is often delayed, placing lives at risk and worsening emergency situations.
While some contractors are working on sections of the road, the pace and quality of work leave much to be desired. The slow progress on many portions of the highway does not reflect value for money. It is equally worrying that the various Regional Directors of the Highway Authority appear helpless as the situation continues to worsen.
This highway is not merely a road; it is an economic lifeline that facilitates trade, commerce, education, healthcare, and social interaction among millions of Ghanaians. Allowing it to deteriorate further will have serious consequences for the socio-economic development of the northern sector of the country.
As a student of Communication, and by extension a journalist and development communicator, I have been trained to identify and highlight issues of public concern in order to promote accountability and bring about positive social change. It is therefore my civic and professional responsibility to draw attention to the deplorable state of this highway and advocate for urgent intervention before more lives are lost.
I therefore use this opportunity to call on the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, and the Hon. Minister for Roads and Highways to take immediate and decisive action to address this growing menace. Urgent rehabilitation and maintenance works must be carried out to restore the highway to a safe and motorable condition.
Furthermore, the National Road Safety Authority should intensify its advocacy and collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure that our roads are as vehicle-worthy as the vehicles that use them. While motorists are expected to keep their vehicles roadworthy, government also has a responsibility to provide roads that are safe for public use.
The Tamale–Bolgatanga Highway is fast becoming a death trap for innocent citizens. The time for action is now. Every delay increases the risk of more accidents, injuries, and avoidable loss of lives. We urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and provide lasting solutions for the benefit of the traveling public and the nation as a whole.
#SaveLives,
#FixTheTamale–BolgatangaHighwaNow.
Written by:
Maxwell Douglas Akanuwe
Student of Communication, Journalist and Development Communicator
