Concord Times (Freetown)
Dixon Nasiru Durin
27 October 2008
The Kenema - Kailahun road, a stretch of about 72 miles, has become so miserable that a lot of development programmes are been diverted from the district (Kailahun).
The distance between Daru and Kailahun, about 24 miles, has become a hell on the road.
With areas nicknamed Abuja between the Baiima and Mobai and another point called "Tigo" between Pendembu and Ngiehun have made travel very dreadful for visitors and residents in Kailahun.
With the continuous rain it seems to many that the community would be cut-off to vehicular traffic if nothing is done to remedy the situation.
The poor road network in the district serves as a recipe for smuggling. Most farmers prefer taking their commodities across the border to Guinea or Liberia.
The road also encourages traders to smuggle goods into the country as it is easier and safer to get to Liberia or Guinea for business rather than putting yourself at risk or getting languished on the muddy road for days.
Until the situation is improved, the government stands to loose a considerable income in the inevitable illegal cross-border transactions.
Hon. Mamie Tewoh Foyah is the parliamentarian for constituency one (1) in Kailahun District which includes Kailahun Town. She told Concord Times that they as members of parliament representing the district were working relentlessly in ensuring that Kailahun gets a good road networks.
Hon. Foyah said that they have recently met the Minister of Works, Hon. John Saad who assured them that the Government was committed to ensuring that the Kenema - Pendembu Road is constructed for good. The Minister also told the MPs that the Kenema - Pendembu Road construction which is around 56 miles will be followed by the commencement of the Pendembu - Koindu Road (a distance of around 45 miles).
Hon. Saad added that the government will not wait for the completion of the construction of the Pendembu - Kenema Road which is in the first phase before seeking funds for the second phase the work. He said that the first phase operation will go on simultaneously with the seeking of funds for the phase 2 which will end in Koindu in the Kissi Teng chiefdom.
In mid rainy season, the new chairman of the Kailahun District Council Rtd. Lt. col. Tom Sahr Nyuma mobilized the community for a massive remedial road work on the Pendembu - Kailahun Road. But due to the nature of the soil and the unavailability of adequate resources the work however failed to achieve the targeted objective.
Hon. Moinina Conteh of constituency six of Kailahun District told Concord Times also that the road work entails a lot of issues that will allow accomplishment.
Hon. Conteh said that the award that the award of contract up to the ground breaking will extend up to February next year.
This was affirmed by the Director of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) Munda Rogers. Mr. Rogers in his remark added that the soil in the area can not allow during the rains an effective remedial works on the road and therefore they are waiting for the end of the rains.
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