By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
It is no secret that most parts of Liberia including urban and rural areas lack road connectivity thus impeding the movement of goods and services.
The lack of road connectivity in urban areas leads to traffic congestion while in rural areas it leads to the lack of development, the untimely death of citizen, especially pregnant women, children and old folks and it also results to the perishing of goods.
Meanwhile, the lack of road connectivity can/could be attributed to the “failure” of those elected or appointed to advocate for their citizens, the lack of funding or those in authority embezzling funding entrusted them for development.
But Representative Joseph Papa Kolleh of Electoral District #7 in Bong County seems to have changed the narratives by embarking on the rehabilitation of roads and opening of new road in his District.
Rep. Kolleh is connecting some major Towns with roads to ease the transportation challenge faced by his citizens on a daily basis.
The lawmaker recently rehabilitated several roads, including the Warlosue and Wumaye roads amongst others.
The Bong County District #7 Representative is opening road in Tannasue, a Town that has been without road since its establishment in 1937 (85-years ago).
Car for the first time entered the area over the weekend as residents of the Town joyously welcomed their Lawmaker.
Citizens in a joyous mood told our reporter that it has been challenging for them to transport sick people and pregnant women to the Sanoyea Health Center as the result of the lack of road network.
The Chairlady and Youth Chair of the Town, Pherma Harris and M. Joseph Manigbolor, Jr. explained that citizens were towing people in hammock covering long distance and walking several hours before getting to Sanoyea.
According to Pherma and Joseph, the road will give them (citizens) economic and health benefits as they will have easy access to markets and health facilities.
Also, a 71-year-old man and son of a deceased man who established the town in 1937, Cooper Freeman said it is under the administration of Rep. Kolleh that they now have car road.
“We only receive road during the administration of Papa Kolleh for District #7 as Representative,” he explained.
Mr. Freeman averred that in the 80s, a road was built in Wumaye leaving their town without road, something he added has caused the town to be under developed.
“No development here, no network, nothing good we can receive here; but through his administration we can receive road today.
Cooper Freeman asserted that in the 80s a road was built connecting Gbarmokollie-Ta and Wumaye but it is a distance from their town.
He said since them, they have been transporting goods on their heads and towing patients in hammock.
Additionally, Mr. Freeman said in order to reduce the challenge of towing goods on their heads and towing sick people in hammock, the citizens organized themselves and opened a pathway (mini-road) with hand tools to be used by motorcyclists yet then still they were charged exorbitantly.
He said with the newly constructed road, the high cost of transportation will reduced why development will be carried out in the Town.
Cooper Freeman has termed the opening of the road as a dream come through and at the same time thanked the Lawmaker for his developmental initiatives in the district especially in Tannasue.
For her part, the chairlady of Worlosue, Korto Wilson said the rehabilitation of their road is boost to them.
She added that for years the road has been in a deplorable condition, thereby leading to motorcyclists overcharging passengers while children were dying as pregnant women were suffering.
The Warlosue Chairlady further explained that due to the deplorable condition of the road by then, as a pregnant woman transported to Gborno Town on motorbike, she lost her child upon arrival.
She described the rehabilitation of their road as timely. Madam Wilson has therefore lauded the Representative for the initiative.
“The road was bad, but I tell Papa Kolleh thank you, the place where I standing now I happy; Papa thank you everywhere Papa go I behind him,” Madam Wilson concluded.