September 10, 2015 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
The local non-governmental organisation, Road for Development Sierra Leone, has expressed their frustration and disappointment over the deplorable state of roads in the Kenema township.
The organisation’s National Coordinator, Philip Lansana, yesterday told a presser in Freetown that while roads in Freetown, Bo and some district headquarters are being constructed, those in Kenema are left in a deplorable condition.
He stated that the appalling roads in the township have seen an increase in road accidents by motorbikes, as well as forcing some big businesses to close their operations because their heavy vehicles cannot enter the town.
“Because of the deplorable roads in the township of Kenema, some pregnant women have lost their pregnancies on their way to the hospital while using motorbikes. Cost of basic food materials has also increased drastically,” he said.
According to him, efforts by the Sierra Leone Police to track down criminals at night and day have also slowed down because their vehicles can no longer move faster in the township.
While calling on the government to prioritise the construction of the Kenema township roads, Mr. Lansana implored development partners not to abandon the people due to the poor roads condition.
Deputy Town Chief, Francis Musa Kallon, noted: “The roads in Kenema are in a very bad shape. We are the breadbasket of Sierra Leone but in terms of development, we are lagging behind. Vehicles spend more than 30 minutes from one road to another. We want tarred roads in Kenema and not patched roads.”
Chief Kallon and the organisation’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, Charles Mambu, called on the government to improve the roads in Kenema city like the ones in Makeni and Bo, among other areas.