By
Prosper K. Kuorsoh, GNA
Tumu (U/W), Aug. 16, GNA – Alhaji Sulemana
Alhassan, the Upper West Regional Minister, has said the Wa-Han-Tumu-Navrongo
road will be tarred and completed by 2020.
Construction of the 180 kilometre trunk road
has suffered several obstacles under successive administrations who often
blamed its suspension on unavailable funds.
The international road to Burkina Faso links
several food producing centres crossing the Sissala East Municipality and
Sissala West District.
Tons of crop produce are often locked up in
major food basket areas due to the terrible nature of the roads.
Alhaji Alhassan, speaking during a Sissala
East Municipal Assembly Town Hall Meeting in Tumu, said government recognized
the challenge and appreciated the social and economic value of the road, hence
the determination to complete it on time.
The government would ensure that all resources
are provided to ensure the completion of the road by the end of its first
tenure, the Minister said.
Traditional authorities, assembly members,
civil society, heads of departments, market women, the business community,
famers and the public attended the meeting.
Other topical issues discussed included
insecurity, illegal harvesting of rosewood, fertilizer smuggling, delay in the
release of subsidized fertilizer coupons and the recently announced
double-track Senior High School system.
The people complained about how gun wielding
timber merchants have invaded every corner of the Municipality to harvest
rosewood forcefully and illegally.
The move is in defiance of Upper West Regional
Coordinating Council announcement banning exportation of rosewood from the
region but Mr Robert Bakah Wavei, Former District Chief Executive of Sissala
West, said the ban ought to be extended to cover the harvesting of rosewood.
GNA