Sissalas must encourage Sukparu to keep seeking the fulfilment of EU Farm Access Roads

Author: Taluta Gbanha Mahama

Today, 25 - May - 2022, marks the first anniversary of the demonstration of chiefs and people of Sissala in Tumu to demand their fair share of European Union funded 670km road project in the Upper West Region. Roads in the Sissala districts are the worst form of roads one can find anywhere in Ghana. The worst nature of the roads in the area made a minister nominee, in 2017, describe the Sissala area as "inhospitable." Among the 11 districts, 8 districts were selected to benefit from the project.

1. Wa Municipal, Wa West, Nadowli-Kaleo (235 km),

2. Jirapa, Lawra, Daffiama-Bussie (210 km)

3. Nandom, Lambussie-Karni (225 km)

The project was meant to link production centres of agricultural produce to market centres. The farming potential of the three excluded Sissala districts, (Sissala West, Sissala East and Wa East) is recognized nationaly. Sissala West was adjudged the best quality maize producer in 2019 at the National Farmer’s Day celebration with Sissala East being the second highest producer of maize. The 3 neglected districts' effort in agricultural production make them worthy deservers of the road projects hence the decision of the chiefs and people to hit the streets was commendable.

The Sissala West Member of Parliament, Hon Mohammed Adams Sukparu was not happy when the beneficiary districts of the Farm Access Roads (Sukparu Roads) project was announced. He moved from office to office to get the 3-Sissala districts included. He went on to issue a press statement on 19 - May - 2021 threatening a demonstration and accusing the Roads Ministry and other duty bearers of deliberately neglecting the Sissala area. https://www.modernghana.com/amp/news/1082865/hon-adams-sukparu-threatens-demonstration-after.html

A demonstration was organized with thousands of people pouring out the streets of Tumu to demand their fair share. Our revered chiefs, Sissala West and Wa East MPs, youth and student leaders, and other key opinion leaders were present. A petition was read and presented to the Roads Ministry by the Paramount Chief of Zini. The petition demanded, "that in the spirit of fairness, social justice and non-discrimination which are cardinal principles in the Ghanaian Constitution and values shared by the EU, a reprioritization and selection of the farm access roads be done based on production levels and severity of need."

The petition forced the Roads' Minister to visit Tumu assuring the chiefs that the roads will be worked on. “Give few months; you will see a change in Tumu. We are not only going to raise it to surface dressing that will precede it. Tumu roads after the initial surface dressing will be raised to asphaltic level,” He further promise to work on a total of 197km of roads for the 3-Sissala districts. The Upper West Regional Minister followed up and gave same assurances and further promised the Wa - Hain - Jeffisi - Tumu - Navrongo highway will be tarred before 2024 elections. Nothing has been done so far to make the Sissala districts have confidence that the 197km of roads will be worked on. Areas, where the roads will be done, are not yet known.

As said earlier, the roads in Sissala area are the worst form of roads you can find anywhere in Ghana. The NDC under Mills/Mahama had done exceedingly well to ensure that roads in the area are fixed. Feeder roads and trunk roads were seriously worked on with some completed. Sissala West in particular saw a lot of communities linked up under feeder and urban roads. Here are some;

All these add up to more than 197kilometres the Roads Minister promised the 3 districts.

The major trunk roads in the Sissala area which are a concern to the majority of Sissala people were also been worked on. Wa - Tumu - Bolgatanga, Tumu - Hamile are non debatable examples. These were been done to connect the Sissala area to the rest of Ghana and Burkina Faso as well as to enhance trade. Unfortunately, all these projects have been stopped since the NPP took power thereby returning the roads to their bad state. We only hear assurances the government do not heed to.

It is also important to remind us of a company called Batuowiisi. It is notoriously known for using its connections to the powerful in government to cheat the Sissala people for its beneficiaries. I am pretty sure the wills of its beneficiaries will be heavier than that of Sir John. This company was awarded a contract to fix Tumu town roads. A caution letter from the Roads' Ministry to compel the company to mobilize to site prove futile. Any kilometre of good roads you find today in Tumu town is wholly attributable to the NDC government(s).

Until Mohammed Adams Sukparu was sworn into Parliament, the Sissala West has lost all hope that they will benefit from any road project under the NPP. Their fear is justified in that both 2019 and 2020 were declared as "Year of Roads" yet no single kilometre of roads has been fixed in Sissala West in any form. All government was doing was laud propaganda to deliver 2020 elections for Nana Addo and not to fix any roads.

The Sissala West MP upon assuming office has filed a number of questions in Parliament to solicit answers from the Roads' Minister on the deplorable nature of Sissala area roads because he knew he is one MP for two constituencies. He did not take advantage of the deplorable road situation in the area to seek contracts for himself and family and friends. He chose to be a representative fighting for all Sissala people. https://www.gna.org.gh/1.20427362

He did not take it lightly when the Sissala area was excluded from the EU Farm Access Roads which I refer to as the "Sukparu Roads." The chiefs and people saw his sincere effort and joined in fighting for our inclusion which yielded some results for Sissala East, Sissala West and Wa East. Though the progress of work is so slow on the roads captured under the Sukparu Roads, there is strong hope that, given the source of funding, the roads will be worked on.

The Sissala West MP in the run up to the elections promise to represent the interest of the people if given the nod. He has since not deviated in his promise. He has provided educational infrastructure and materials, health infrastructure and equipment including drugs, extended electricity, gave the youth jobs through entrepreneurship and innovation and so on. He has also developed the innovative program of co-financing where communities are supported with resources to use their energies to build projects that will benefit them. Under this project, thousands of cement bags have been donated to various communities.

To end, when the Sissala West constituents went to the polls in 2020, they thought they were electing a MP for themselves not knowing they were doing so for 2-constituencies. Has has worked hard to fulfil his promises to us, substantially meeting our needs and working for others. The people of Sissala West are encouraged to rally behind the MP to do more for our greater good while ensuring that the "Supkara Roads" are delivered.

By Taluta Gbanha Mahama,

Sissala West, Gwollu.

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