Travellers and commuters along the Wa-Sawla-Bole-Bamboi Road are expressing frustration over the deteriorating state of the N12 highway, a critical Trans-ECOWAS route linking the Upper West and Savannah regions to southern Ghana.
The road, last upgraded and tarred in 2007, has seen little to no maintenance, raising concerns about safety and accessibility.
In an interview with Channel One News, several travellers expressed concerns about the poor condition of the road and called on the government to fix it to avert accidents.
Sridu Malik, a commuter, lamented, “A journey that would have lasted about one and a half hours if the roads were in good condition takes the average commuter close to four hours to get to Bole, a distance of about one hundred and twenty-eight kilometres (128 km). The journey is often tiring and full of hazards, with multiple accidents due to the bad nature of the road network.”
The Upper West Region is connected to the Upper East and Savannah regions, serving as a gateway to other parts of the country, particularly for those travelling to the southern half of Ghana.
“The average person travelling from the Upper West Region to Kumasi or Accra has no choice but to go through the Wa-Sawla-Bole-Bamboi Road,” another commuter remarked. “The road here is in such a terrible state that drivers and other road users have to meander their way through it to complete their journeys.”
Oli Raman, VIP Bus Terminal Manager in Wa, recounted a tragic incident on the road. “Last month, there was a very tragic accident on this road, leading to the death of some travellers. The incident occurred when a motorcycle skidded off the road and veered onto the opposite side, with the rider’s head colliding with a moving Sanyong urban bus. Both the rider and the passenger died instantly.”
The Wa-Sawla-Bole-Bamboi Road was first awarded on contract and tarred during President Kufuor’s administration in 2007. However, due to a lack of maintenance, the road has deteriorated into a dilapidated state. Travellers from Wa to the southern parts of the country now take close to 12 hours to reach their destinations. For example, a trip to Accra, the nation’s capital, takes the average traveller more than 12 hours.
Kwabena Owusu, a driver, highlighted the plight of the Upper West Region’s residents. “The people of the Upper West Region are the worst affected because they are the major users of the Wa-Sawla-Bole-Bamboi Road network. However, starting from Nyorli, the jurisdiction of the road network falls under the Northern Region, making it difficult to maintain.”
Cornelius Kuusan, Assemblyman for Samanbo, expressed cautious optimism about potential improvements. “Some people believe that with the change of government and the President-elect coming from the Bole-Bamboi area, which forms an essential part of the deteriorated road network, there could be light at the end of the tunnel for fixing the Wa-Sawla-Bole-Bamboi Road.”
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