Residents of the Salaga South Municipality in the Savannah Region and the Kpandai District in the Northern Region have appealed to the government and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to urgently intervene in the stalled construction of the Salaga–Kumdi–Kpandai road, describing its prolonged abandonment as a major setback to development and economic activity.
The Salaga–Kumdi–Kpandai road remains the only direct link between the two districts and serves as an important route for the transportation of agricultural produce, commercial activities and access to social services.
Residents say the road has featured prominently in successive election campaigns over the years but has seen little tangible progress, despite its critical role in food distribution and regional connectivity.
In 2019, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of the 45.3-kilometre Salaga–Kumdi–Kpandai road, with completion scheduled for 2023. However, construction stalled by the end of 2021, leaving large sections of the road in an unmotorable state.
Flooding caused by torrential rains has since become an annual challenge, severely disrupting socio-economic activities in the area.
As a result, motorists and transport operators are compelled to use an alternative route through Chamba in the Nanumba North District before accessing Salaga or Kpandai, a situation they say increases travel time and transport fares.
Impact on communities
Communities such as Kumdi, Kpandai, Kayereso and Salaga are frequently cut off during heavy rains, affecting access to schools, markets and healthcare facilities.
A resident of Kumdi, Mr. Maluu Tagar, said emergency cases often face delays because vehicles, including ambulances, are unable to ply the road when it becomes flooded.
Motorists and traders also complain of frequent vehicle breakdowns and accidents along the stretch, attributing the situation to the poor condition of the road.
“The condition of the road is disturbing. It is difficult to use due to deep potholes, and commuters often arrive at their destinations exhausted and in pain. Something must be done to ease our suffering,” Vida Jagri said.
Agricultural concerns
Kpandai and Salaga are major food-producing areas, contributing significantly to the supply of yams, maize and groundnuts to other parts of the country. However, residents say the deplorable state of the road has worsened post-harvest losses, as farmers struggle to transport produce to markets.
They further expressed concern about the poor condition of the Salaga–Loloto–Jamboai road, which links the area to the Krachi Nchumuru District in the Oti Region. According to them, initial rehabilitation works on the road were abandoned years ago, further limiting access to farming communities.
Calls for accountability
The residents are therefore calling on the Ministry of Roads and Highways to investigate stalled road contracts and ensure that contractors who failed to deliver are held accountable.
They also want the Salaga–Kumdi–Kpandai road to be considered under the government’s BIG PUSH Roads Agenda, citing its strategic importance to the eastern corridor and national food supply.
Official response
The District Chief Executive for Kpandai, Mr. Haruna Abdul-Karim, in an interview with Graphic Online, acknowledged the concerns and said several road projects in the district awarded under the previous administration had recorded little progress.
He explained that the Assembly was engaging the Department of Urban Roads to verify the status of the contractor responsible for the Salaga–Kumdi–Kpandai road.
“If it is established that the contractor abandoned the project, the necessary steps will be taken to compel a return to site,” he said.
On the Salaga–Loloto–Jamboai road, Mr. Abdul-Karim said the Assembly had requested details of the contractors involved, adding that contracts could be terminated if investigations revealed that no work had been done.
He added that with the rainy season over, the Assembly would deploy equipment under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) to reshape selected feeder roads to improve accessibility in the interim.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh