Floods cut off Sissala East and West … As bridges, road network are washed away
From Musah Umar Farouq
The Sissala West and East Districts in the Upper West Region have been cut off from the rest of the area, as a result of recent floods that have washed away all major bridges linking the two districts. One of such bridges is along the Gwollu, Gbal and Zini road, which also links Filemua and other towns.
Reports reaching The Chronicle indicate that hundreds of people are stranded as a result of the heavy rain and the accompanying floods. An eyewitness, who disclosed this to the Reporter, said the heavy rainfall has made it impossible for vehicles to travel to the two districts thereby halting commercial activities in the area.
The condition of roads in the Tumu Township has also deteriorated with recently built ones showing cracks. The road from Wa, through Han, Jeffissi, to Tumu, was submerged with flood water washing away all bridges on the high way.
The major bridge linking Gwollu, St. Clares Vocational School to Tumu, has also been washed away, forcing drivers to park their vehicle at both ends of the road.
The Chronicle also gathered from Tumu that there is also a heavy flooding along the Tumu- Navrongo-Bolgatanga road, making travelling on that road very difficult and dangerous for drivers.
Over 40 communities in both districts, including farming communities have been flooded.
Meanwhile, both districts have witnessed serious power outages as a result of a strong lightening which killed 4 donkeys at Lilixia in the Sissala East district and destroying high-tension poles in the Wa East. In a related development the Upper West Regional Minister, Amin Amidu Sulemani, has given the police, Ghana Highways Authority and Road Safety Commission two weeks to complete the removal of unauthorized speed ramps in the region.
According to him, speed ramps are usually constructed by regional committee members and people living in local communities in order to protect community members and livestock from speeding cars.
He said one can count over 50 speed ramps between Wa and Jirapa and similar number between Wa and Sawla and charged on the police to do away with them.
The Minister also stated that communities along the road have instituted these measures to force drivers and motorcyclists to slow down and to observe speed limits within these communities.
He therefore appealed to road users to be careful, patient and respect other road users anytime they are on the road and avoid alcohol intake.
Hon. Sulemani revealed that this year, about 1,000 lives have been lost so far, and more than 4,000 people have been injured and about 23% of crash victims have been found to be occupants of buses or mini buses in the country.
The Regional Minister also urged drivers to obey speed limits and other road regulations to minimize car accidents and the resultant injuries and fatalities.
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