The Department of Urban Roads (DUR) has constructed a 16-km road from Gbungbalga Junction to Nyanshegu in the Yendi Municipality in the Northern Region in an effort to reduce the increasing maternal mortality rate in the community.
Hitherto, the about 500 people in that part of the Northern Region had only a footpath on which they carted their farm produce, mainly yam, to the major market centre in Yendi.
It was also the same footpath that provided a 25km link from Nyanshegu to the Yendi District Hospital, where their women are sent to while in labour.
A number of women have died on their way to the Yendi Hospital because they could not arrive early enough.
To reverse the trend and give life to pregnant women and their babies, the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Issah Zakari, made an appeal to the DUR to open up the road for the people.
As part of an inspection tour of the Northern Region, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah, and directors from the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), Department of Feeder Roads, and the DUR inspected the progress of work on the road. They also interacted with members of the community. What has been done
Following the appeal, the DUR went in to clear the stretch of the road and work is, however, still ongoing.
The local contractor, Gubgatimali Construction Works, is yet to cover the road with gravels.
According to the Northern Regional Director of Urban Roads, Mr Alexander Gogoe, GH¢150, 000 was needed to construct a culvert along a section of the road.
Mr Mensah gave an assurance that the money needed to complete the work would be released on time.
“The high mortality rate in this community cannot be allowed to continue,” he stated. Yendi ring roads
As part of the visit, Mr Mensah also inspected work on the 1.5km of the Broadcasting Road and part of the Yendi Ring Road under construction.
The road begins from the OA bus terminal towards the Residency and connects the Yendi-Saboba Road.
Mr Gogoe said the project was in two phases. The contractor, Limakma Enterprise, was now carrying out the drainage works after which it would dress its surface.
The work started in December 2013 and it is expected to be completed in December this year.
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