President Akufo-Addo Is Wicked To The People Of Upper East Region

Mr. President, Greetings from Binduri.
When the gods speak, they do not speak from both sides of their mouth. You promised Ghanaians you would continue with projects started by the previous regime. This you have done in other regions except the Upper East Region.

The people of Upper East Region want to know why you hate them this much. At what point did the Upper East Region become a second class region to deserve such a discriminatory treatment? I mean why did you change the original contract documents of the BOLGA -BAWKU-PULMAKO ROAD?

The contract was signed in 2016 by the NDC government between the government of Ghana and a Brazilian Contractor, Queiro Calvao. The same contractor constructed the Tamale International Airport which means experience is not a problem here at all. Sod cutting for the construction of the road was done same day with the Tamde irrigation dam by H.E John Dramani Mahama on 11^th July, 2016 at Zebilla and Tamde respectively. It is a 115-Kilometer road expected to be completed in two years.

A portion of the road from Bolga to Nangodi was awarded to a local contractor, MAWUMS in 2012, the company abandoned site for reasons of lack funds. The Brazilian company was expected to continue to Pulmako. 2.5 kilometers was expected to be asphalted dual carriage from Bolga to parts of Zuarungu and streetlights fixed on it.

The Brazilian contractor Quiero Calvao has completed 20 kilometers of the road from Binduri to Bawku as of now. Mobilization was paid before the project commenced. After a change of government, eight certificates have been raised but none have been honored which the firm indicates would stampede work. The type of construction is "Surface Dressing tarring" and it can withstand 10 tonnes of load let trucks. And if this is followed duly, the road can last for seven years.

But if this isn't followed accordingly, the road’s lifespan is expected to be four years. In this regard axle load points would be established along the road to check weights. There are also solar street lights expected along the major towns such as Zebilla, Bawku and Widana towns as well as the high security threat areas in the Nango-Tilli forest reserve.

Another facility to be seen along the road is a modern bus stop at Zebilla and Missiga where traders and passengers who ply their petty trade can go on with their business in comfort.

On the issue of the entire road being an asphalt, information is sketchy but sources at the Ghana Highways Authority say the contract has been changed from bitumen asphalting to surface dressing.

The question now is what crime has my people committed to deserve this alteration of our road contract from Bitumen Asphalt to Surface dressing?

We want answers and it must be immediately.
The road is not all. Why is the proposed Airstrip project in Region by the erstwhile regime not part of your Regional tour programming? Mr. President, you told Ghanaians that you are committed to revamping the aviation sector or don't the people of Upper East Region deserve their fair share of the Aviation cake? Are we not humans too? Former President Mills of blessed memories and Former President Mahama’s administrations constructed the runway for full construction to be carried out this year 2017.

Few months ago, the people of my Region woke up early morning only to find out that the proposed location of their Airstrip has been relocated to Bolga-Sirigu. This has brought about confusions between the two adjacent towns Suburungu (the original town) and Sirigu (the current proposed site) issuing threat to government and vowing to disregard the rule of law if the facility is not located in their area.

Na who cause am?
We hope this news about the proposed current relocation was the usual apologetic rumour of this NPP government. Work had started and economic trees such as shea trees and mangoes were cleared to pave way for the project; so how possibly could you relocate the proposed project location to a different location now being a bone of contention between the communities of Suburungu and Sirigu? Why are you dividing us? Is divisiveness the only stock in trade the NPP has for the people of Upper East?

You told Ghanaians during your maiden address to Parliament this year that priority would be placed on the railway sector as a flagship project; why are you not doing any inspection here since Paga is the end of that project?

Well I will end here with the presumption that you do not want to give credit where it is due.

Yours Sincerely,
Assibid Dauda
A concerned citizen from Binduri.