The Paramount Chief of the Sirigu Traditional Area in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, Naba Roland Akwara Atogumdeya III, has expressed frustration over government’s neglect of a collapsed bridge linking the community to Bolgatanga and the Bongo District.
He said the collapsed bridge coupled with the bad road network in the community needed urgent attention, and called on government to as a matter of urgency, fix the bridge which claimed several lives and caused injuries to commuters.
“Pregnant women referred to the Regional Hospital from the Sirigu Health Centre have had several miscarriages due to the bad road network.
“Are we not part of the country Ghana, if we are not part of the country let us know, Mr. President. If this bridge is not fixed as soon as possible, then the government should do well and come and take us back to Burkina Faso because that is our original home,” he said.
Naba Atogumdeya III said this when he led thousands of community members to peacefully demonstrate against the poor road network and collapsed bridge.
He explained that their forefathers migrated from Gambaga and settled at Zekoo in Burkina Faso but political boundaries divided them from their original home, stressing that if their concerns were not addressed, they would return to their original home.
He noted that the collapsed bridge had stalled economic activities in the area as trucks and cars could not pass with foodstuffs and other commodities due to the strategic location of the community.
“Many visitors and commuters from Ghana in Burkina Faso visit the town for economic activities, tourism and to access health care and education,” the Paramount Chief said.
Source:mywordfmonline.com/ James Adombire.