Tamale: Sagnarigu residents flee over 'Killer' bridge

Scores of dwellers of GboloKpalsi in the Sagnarigu district of the Northern region are fleeing the community following perennial flood that inundated the whole area as a result of a road construction project being executed by the assembly.

Starr News has gathered that the assembly awarded a contract for a dilapidated road that passes through the community to be constructed.

The contractor in carrying out the project constructed a bridge and directed the openings to the community; as a result, anytime there is rainfall all the water which hitherto flows through different directions now converges at the bridge and flow linearly through the community.

The raging floodwaters break through embankments and swamp the community, washing away houses, forcing dozens to rooftops and others clinging to utility poles for their lives.

Currently over seven household have vacated the community, 14 houses completely pulled down and at least 8 persons have sustained varied degree of injuries.

The situation continues to cause massive destruction to properties and threaten lives of community members.

Residents in this area moved to stay with relatives in other areas and school children are asked to stay at home anytime there is sign of rainfall.

Speaking to Starr News, Secretary of GboloKpalsi Landlords Association- an organized group of landlords to demand solutions to the situation, Sumaila Ibrahim said, all attempts to get authorities to come to their aid have been unsuccessful.

He said members who would not flee the community would be compelled to protest on streets if nothing is done about their plight.

“When this thing happened we came together and thought it was wise to put a letter across. Our first letter was given to them on the 2nd April and the leadership of the group, we have our contacts nicely labeled on the letter for more than two months and we didn’t hear anything; the letter was addressed to the DCE and we gave some copies to the Regional minister, Member of Parliament, District NADMO coordinator, Chief of Kpalsi and Urban roads and for almost two months we heard nothing”.

Some residents who shared their pains and sufferings said they were leaving in fear and may also flee the community.

A retired banker Rinius Wisdom says “When it rains like this I can’t move my car out. When I came and built this house, I used to ride safely but when this bridge was constructed that is what brought us here. This time when they fail to come to our aid, we shall resort to demonstration or we can consult any particular political party which would be of help to us”.

When Starr News contacted the Sagnarigu District Chief Executive Hon. Mohammed Sorigudoo he admitted the situation was causing a lot of inconvenience to residents of the area but noted it was also pressing for the road to be constructed.

He stressed that even though the situation was “unpleasant and eye saw” the Assembly needed to construct the road which has been abandoned for many years.