Drivers and passengers commuting along the Damongo-Sawla-Bole road have appealed to the government to urgently maintain and reconstruct the deteriorating road in the Savannah Region.
They complain that the poor condition of the road is making travel increasingly difficult and hazardous for both passengers and vehicles, especially with the onset of the rainy season.
The Damongo-Sawla-Bole road, part of the 147.5-kilometre Fulfulso-Sawla double-sealed surfaced road project, was constructed in 2012 and commissioned in 2015. Today, the once-praised road has severely deteriorated, becoming a death trap for both travellers and vehicles.
Speaking to Channel One News, some drivers reported that armed robbery cases along the stretch have become rampant, calling for increased security patrols to safeguard lives.
They also lamented that the poor road conditions frequently cause vehicle breakdowns, making it necessary for the government to intervene urgently by maintaining and reconstructing the road.
“The bad nature of the road is exposing us to robbery, because you get to a point that the car will not be able to move as fast as possible, and that exposes us to robbers,” a driver told Channel One News
Passengers also expressed frustrations over the long hours now spent on the road due to its poor state, which has led to a sharp rise in transportation fares.
They further highlighted the difficulties in transferring pregnant women and sick patients from Bole to Tamale, stressing the urgent need for road repairs to facilitate safer and quicker travel.
“At least we need more security for the road because it’s too bad. Instead of using two hours to reach your destination, you can end up using four hours,” a passenger said.
“We are suffering. Even when they are transferring a pregnant woman to Damongo or Bole, it is always a problem,” another passenger lamented.
Mumuni Mohammed, the Assembly Member for Kabampe and the Presiding Member for the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, stated that deterioration of the road began while the contractor was still on-site.
He emphasised that although the road is barely a decade old, it has now become a major danger zone, with increased incidents of armed robbery and frequent vehicle breakdowns.
“Ten years down the line, portions of the road have deteriorated so badly, and this has made commuters and vehicle owners so worried,” he said.
