Bad roads account for road accidents in Upper East

Civil society organisations (CSOs) and youth associations in the Upper East Region have attributed the spate of road accidents in the area to the deplorable nature of the roads.

At a news conference in Bolgatanga the spokesperson, Mr Bismark Adongo said the road network linking all the 13districts in the region are in bad shape.

Mr Adongo said the Bolgatanga township roads, the Bawku – Bolgatanga road, the trans-ECOWAS road, which links Kasena- Nankana East and West, Navrongo-Sandema-Fumbisi, the uncompleted Bolgatanga-Bongo, Bolgatanga-Zurangu road, the Bolgatanga-Sherigu road, the Estates, Soe and Bukere roads and the Bolgatanga-Zongo need urgent repairs.

Mr Adongo, who is also the President of Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy , said several appeals made to the authorities to improve on the roads have proved futile.

Mr Stanley Abopaam, Regional Public Relations Officer of Bolgatanga, Nangodi, Bongo and Tongo Union, said the situation is undermining agriculture productivity and affecting economic and effective health delivery

He said the Navrongo-Sandema-Fumbisi road, which links the region to its largest agriculture production area is in a mess.

He said due to the bad nature of the road network linking the regional capital to the district capitals armed robbers have taken opportunity of the situation to rob travellers.

Mr Johnson Ayine, a member of the Sherigu Youth Association, said due to the poor nature of the roads, vehicles break down often causing inconvenience to passengers.

The CSOs and youth groups included Upper East Youth Association, Zongo Youth Association, Atlantic Youth Association and Zurangu Youth Association.