THE BAD STATE OF ROADS IN TUMU AND ITS SURROUNDINGS - JONATHAN ZANGU WRITES.

 

Problems of this country Ghana, are always considered very inferior until the worst things happen, then drastic measures that should have been taken to prevent the situation will now be taken which normally doesn't serve any good purpose. Even government and other politicians do come around the scenes of such incidence to cry “crocodile tears” showing “fake remorse” about the problem. Why can’t the needful be done in due time to prevent discomfort in the Ghanaian society? Are our politicians in anyway not caring about we the ordinary Ghanaians? Serving the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian should be the ultimate dream of every leader, in that sense every politician, but not to satisfy their personal hunger. Decentralization of developmental projects should be held in high esteem because the developed towns continue to get more facilities while the less privileged ones remain in a desolated state.

Posturing my ideas on this scenario, I wish to petition the municipal Chief Executive, the two members of parliament for both Sissala East and Sissala West constituencies and the government of the day to run to the aid of the people of Tumu and its environs by providing a befitting road network from at least Wa to Tumu. The bad nature of the road has actually affected the area which in turn affects government since there are a lot of resourceful activities in and around the locality.

 The presence of numerous institutions in the Tumu township is enough reason for government to hasten up in the construction of the roads to facilitate smooth traveling of the students and to also secure their lives as they journey to and from school. In fact, children who school in Tumu locality always feel so reluctant to report to school during resumption not because they don’t like education, but because of the journey stress. Even students will now be seen as "gangsters" as they travel since there is too much dust on the way. Students cannot dress like students when journeying through such a bad- conditioned road to school. Almost all the public transport vehicles from Wa to Tumu are in torturous conditions. Even the cars alone inflect pain on the travelers as it is not in a good shape. But since there is scarcity of better vehicles journeying from Wa to Tumu, we do manage with the available ones despite the fact that it creates a lot of health hazards for us. Do our leaders actually know that travelers can loss their lives on such roads? Such should not happen before the necessary steps are taken. We are expected to make hay while the sun shines. We have to really think of the dangers that can be caused by such roads as we still have peace and not to run helter-skelter in order to fix the road when we are into pieces.

I do pounder over the bad state of the road even from the Tumu township to the great college of all colleges, Tumu College of Education (TUCE). TUCE, since its commencement in 1984 has been one of the best public teacher training colleges in the country. TUCE is 32 years now which has contributed a lot to the development of our motherland. It is so disheartening to mention that the road linking Tumu and Burkina Faso along which TUCE is located, is subjected to the mercy of pot-holes and trenches all over. This prominent and incomparable institution is been seen as a less developed and or privileged college due to the bad nature of the roads. TUCE is just about a kilometer away from the township of Tumu. But still, this short road cannot even be upgraded to a second class road since those years till now. It is actually sad. This is not about a single political party, but it has been there throughout the reigns of all the successive governments over a long period of time.

Mr. Adams Kaleo Bertinus, the ever competent and hard working principal of TUCE made a lot of efforts to raise the standard of the institution in terms of infrastructure, but as we all know, such an individual is not in the position to develop the road networks. For that matter, the nature of the road differs greatly from that of the institution. Many judged the book by its cover until they witness it themselves. Speaking about TUCE can easily carry me off the concern of the day. Nevertheless, I stand to petition the various responsible individuals who are been entrusted the mantles to serve their people, to do the needful for the betterment of we all.

The major roads linking Tumu to other resourceful and multi- important places should be granted befitting roads. Wa to Tumu covers a distance of about 103 kilometers which should not take a long time to be constructed if the level of commitment becomes considerate.

If not for the indigenes of Tumu, but for the sake of other citizens of the country that travel far and near into the town for educational and other relevant issues, I urge all the stakeholders involved, to heed to our cry and take the expected steps in due time for the best to be provided to we all.

"A journey of thousand miles begins with just a step". Comparably, the various personnel responsible for such should not look at the distance but they should be determined and committed to constructing these roads. Anyhow, the long and short of it is, we are crying for good roads linking Tumu to its surrounding towns especially Wa.

Jonathan Zangu

SRC P.R.O

Tumu College of Education