Builsa South: Deteriorating Uwasi-Fumbisi road disrupts life and business

Residents of the Builsa South District in the Upper East Region are facing severe challenges due to deteriorating road conditions, exacerbated by ongoing rains.

This has disrupted daily life. The road connecting Uwasi to the district capital, Fumbisi, has become a major concern for many residents.

At times, residents are forced to wade through knee-deep water to travel between Uwasi and Fumbisi.

The 33.5 km road project was awarded on 5 April 2019, to Samba Company Limited. However, the contractor failed to fulfil the terms of the contract, which was terminated in 2022.

The project has not been repackaged for another contractor to complete it. Unofficial reports suggest that only about 10% of the road was completed by the previous construction company.

When George Asuiyok, a resident and former assembly member for the Uwasi Electoral Area, spoke to Asaase News, he mentioned that the people of the area have been struggling for a long time.

“We feel very frustrated because this road is crucial for us and others. For those coming from the North East Region, it is the main route linking Builsa South to the North East Region. You travel from Uwasi to Kunkwa, then to Walewale, and finally to Tamale. It is the shortest route for commuting from the district to the North East Region.”

“Major goods pass through this road to Fumbisi Market, which is a key hub along this route. Therefore, it is extremely important to us. Currently, workers travelling from Fumbisi to Uwasi are facing difficulties due to the poor condition of the road. They often exhibit a lack of enthusiasm because the road is not in good shape, making it challenging for them to travel.”

“In emergencies, such as needing an ambulance at the CHPS compound in Uwasi, the response time is severely affected. Similarly, if there is an electricity fault, the repair teams are unable to reach the area. Teachers also face challenges due to the lack of proper accommodation, and all these issues are compounded by the road’s poor state.”

The assemblyman for the area, Wisdom Akunsung, stated that the poor condition of the road has negatively impacted many activities in the area.

“The road was awarded to a contractor named Mohammed Samba, who is the Northern Regional NPP Chairman, in 2019. I remember inspecting the road and noting that the contractor had not constructed the required culverts. Subsequently, the project was abandoned, and to this day, there has been no progress or updates regarding the road’s condition.”

“The road has deteriorated so much that even vehicles struggle to pass through.”

The DCE for Builsa South, Daniel Kwame Gariba, mentioned that he was unsure when the road would be handed over for construction.

“The contractor’s failure to perform has led to a lack of improvement. I took the issue to the regional feeder roads engineer, wrote several letters, and the engineer issued multiple warnings to the contractor. Eventually, the contract was terminated in 2022. Currently, the regional feeder road engineer is working hard to find a new contractor to complete the project. While I cannot provide specific timelines, I assure you that efforts are underway. Please understand that procurement processes take time to ensure that contracts are awarded fairly and correctly. The necessary procedures are ongoing.”

Meanwhile, the MP for the Builsa South Constituency, Clement Apaak, explained that he had to make out-of-pocket payments of over GHC10, 000 for about 15 trips of gravel to fill the most treacherous portions of the road.

Reporting by Mark Smith in the Upper East Region.

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