Bolgatanga, Aug. 28, GNA - The Upper East Regional Minister Mr. Mark Woyongo has assured people in the region that government's implementation of the Savannah Development Authority (SADA) would facilitate the upgrading of roads in the area. He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) was also liaising with the Ministry of Roads and agencies under it, to fashion out a plan to repair roads in the Bolgatanga Municipality.

Mr. Woyongo made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga, during a survey on bad roads in the region. He said under SADA, major roads linking food producing areas in the region had been earmarked either for construction or rehabilitation. The Municipal Roads Engineer, Mr. Domingo Lekettey said although his outfit had designed a special programme to patch potholes on roads in the Municipality, the project had been hampered by lack of funds. Meanwhile a number of residents who spoke to the GNA as part of the survey expressed concern about the poor road network in the municipality in particular and the region as a whole.

The respondents who included teachers, traders, civil and public servants and religious leaders called on the Municipal Assembly to take measures to address the situation.

Mr. Adolph Kasu, employee of Health First Medical Laboratory and Fitness Services said: "Vehicles including cars and motorbikes splash water on you while on your way to work. You have no option than to go back home and change even when there is loads of work sitting in your office. It affects productivity."

Miss Miriam Ayelgum, a remedial student said the offices responsible for ensuring that roads were patched in the municipality should explain why nothing had been done so far since the rains started this year. A respondent, Mr. John Akaribo, noted that rehabilitation of roads does not need the hands of a master craftsman. Mr. Gordon Anaama, a teacher, suggested the need for the RCC to come out with clear policies on the rehabilitation of the roads in the municipality.