Gbarnga, Bong County – Residents of Gbarnga say they are frustrated at the abandonment of the Gbarnga street pavement project.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Parts of the city have become impassable and have turned the ever busy Gbarnga broad street to a shadow of itself as traders complain of low patronage.
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica Wednesday, the residents say they are suffering as a result of the ongoing pavement of major streets, which has lasted two years without any tangible outputs?
Some residents seemed to have taken their fate in their hands, while some had to relocate to other areas, while others have continued to groan in silence hoping to see better days ahead.
Not only is the present state of the road in that area affecting the general public, but traders have also not been spared. Some say they have lost their customers because of lack of parking space.
Road-side traders in the area in some cases double as rescue in cases where motorists fall into the deep uncovered gutters in the area.
The present state of the road, according to citizens, makes mockery of the efforts of the leadership of Bong County and the county legislative caucus.
According to Joshua, a road-side trader, who works on electronics along the popular Gbarnga broad street market, traders have taken their fate as it is, they make little or no sales since the commencement of the so-called road construction which began two years ago.
The trader who is in his mid-twenties said that in most cases they rescue motorists who fall into the deep uncovered gutter in the area. “We are experiencing low patronage due to the bad roads.”
“The gutters which were dug and abandoned here are also posing serious danger to the public, because most times especially when it rains, if you are not careful, you might slip and fall into the very deep gutter and we end up bringing the person out from the gutter. It is affecting our business in that most people prefer to go elsewhere to buy their goods instead of coming down here due to the condition of the road,” he lamented.
The young man also complained that the workers have abandoned the work and come to the site once in a while to pretend as if they are working while they are not doing anything meaningful.
Joshua’s major concern is not only to put the road in shape, but also, to cover the gutters in order to save lives.
“For some time now, even the workers have not been doing anything, so I am using this opportunity to call on the leadership of the county to intervene and at least close the drainage, because it is dangerous the way it is left open,” he decried.
Another road user, Chris, who is a motorcyclist, says that in contrast to the start of his business, he is having problems raising money for his education as his daily income has reduced drastically due to the nature of the road.
For Chris the Gbarnga Broad street pavement is not the only problem in the city but basically all the roads in Gbarnga are in bad shape.
“Most of the roads in this Gbarnga area are very bad and it is really affecting us. I hardly make up to LD 700 at the end of the day. In fact, making that amount in a day is by the special grace of God.”
When contacted as to why the road project has been stalled and why the project is in such disarray, Mr. Anthony Sheriff, Bong County’s Assistant Superintendent for Development, said the road will soon be completed as the leadership of the county and the county legislative caucus are making every possible effort to ensure that residents of the area enjoy a smooth road.
Sheriff lamented the general public for being impatient. He also said that there are alternative routes for motorists to ply until the major road is put in shape.
“The members of the public are not patient. The contractors are working on the drainages, so whatever they dug will not be left open like that, it’s just temporary.”
“There are alternative routes for motorists, for instance, if you’re coming from Phebe parking you can use the oil depot route, which is not also in good condition.”
According to Sheriff, the county leadership and members of the caucus have the citizens at heart as they are making all necessary efforts to ensure that everything is under control.
“Your leaders are working seriously towards creating relief for motorists and residents alike in the way of constructing drainage.”
“It would have been completed by now, if not for the rain that has been on for a while. I believe that now that the rain is subsiding, work will continue in earnest.
Though, the county leadership recently announced that US$ 650,000 has been given the contractor, the work has come to a standstill.
A Chinese Company, East International Group Incorporated was hired last year to pave the Gbarnga main street (1.8 Km) and the Madam Suakoko Street (0.613 Km).
The reinforced concrete pavement connects the One+One and Star Gas Stations as well as the Gbarnga Administration Building and the Gbarnga School of Theology.
In line with the contract signed between East International Group Incorporated and the leadership of Bong County, the pavement of the two streets is estimated at (US$ 1,353,751.05).
The parties mutually agreed that the duration of the road construction project shall be ten months commencing from January 21, 2016, up to and including October 21, 2016 but the project continued to face setbacks.
The county legislative caucus in November 2016 announced that one million U.S dollars was allotted in the 2016/2017 National Budget to finance the project but the whereabouts of the funds remains unknown.
A recent financial report from the Ministries of Finance and Internal Affairs revealed that between 2006 to 2014, Bong County leadership received over 15 million United States dollars under the County Social and Development Funds.
As the country moves to election in October, questions over the impact of the funds remain a major debate in the county.
