By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Hundreds of inhabitants at Jomo Kenyatta Road, opposite the Guinea Embassy in Freetown have complained of the deplorable road network in their community which they say has deprived them of accessing basic facilities and amenities to advance their standards of living.
In an interview conducted by this medium, most residents lamented the deplorable road network which they claimed has prevented vehicles from plying in that community.
A resident at Jomo Kenyatta road, Mariama Jabbie, said the deprived and terrible road network has devastated the entire community in terms of economic viability and social transformation, especially in rainy seasons.
She said the road leading to Mountain Camel community, Modern High school, and T.K Drive is not in good condition due to the heavy downpour of rains, adding that drivers, students and parents are finding it difficult to make their way to these communities.
She said the road was constructed by Gento Group, but during the construction, there was a heavy downpour of rains which washed away the tar and whenever a vehicle rode on it, it would damage the road, adding that Gento was aware of the ugly situation for over a month’s now but no improvement was done to address the status of the road.
She continued that even their economic activities in the community are been slowed down due to the bad road network and that condition of living at the moment is heartrending.
“We were being abused immensely daily by commercial bike riders, delivery vans, heavy-duty trucks and commercial motor tricycles with impunity in disguised that the road was terrible,” she affirmed.
Madam Jabbie called on the Freetown City Council to help them control the water that passes through the road which is the major cause of the destruction of the road.
“We are pleading with Gento to assist us to maintain the road for us because when we have good roads, everyone feels happy, but when the road is bad it discourages us as it affects drivers, passers-by and even us living in this community,” she said.
A pupil at International Secondary School (anonymous) who usually passes through the road to her school said the present condition of the road leading to her school is not good for her comfort as it was not like that before and it is so stressful for her to pass through the road.
She said the deplorable condition of the road can lead to damage or accident if two vehicles are making their way; she, therefore, called on the government to maintain the road for it to be very comfortable for them because most people are using the road every day.
A parent who took her kids to school, Milicent Gorgra said as a driver she did not feel happy about the condition of the road because it is one of the main roads they use to drop their children at school.
She said on the first day when schools open, police officers stopped them not to using the road, but later they got another entrance which they use but the road was so damaged and they are afraid of their cars not to get spoiled.
She added that it would be nice for them as parents to come together to meet with authorities responsible for road maintenance to fix the road for them.
