Hundreds of people plying the Kailahun Road have their own description concerning the status of the highway. Only few lorries are able to make their way through without passing the night on the road; and almost all vehicles going through the road must pay visit to the garage in Kailahun or upon return.
The Eastern Region Correspondent of Awoko Press, Saffa Moriba, traveled to Kailahun with his motorbike and he described the conditions along the highway as the worst he has ever seen. After taking his motorbike to the garage for servicing, he got in touch with the Chairman, Kailahun District Council, Rtd. Lt. Col. Sahr Tom Nyuma, who briefed him about the operations of the Council.
According to Nyuma, this is his second month in office, and that during the first month, he was preoccupied with identifying the problems facing the District. He stressed that the rehabilitation of the highway is his topmost priority.
He said that the local population has contributed a lot by fixing stones on the road; but due to the fact that the District has experienced a bumper harvest of cocoa this year, heavy trucks plying the route have damaged the highway.
The worst area along the Kenema/Kailahun highway is the seven miles radius from Giema to Pendembu. Other areas not easily accessible are Baima, Mobai Junction and Daru Town.
The District Council Chairman noted that the road is a trunk road and it is the responsibility of Government to make it motorable; but however stressed that they too have an obligation to their people as a Council.
As a result of the deplorable road conditions, the prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed; and this is now a concern in the District. He then appealed to government and other donor organizations to come to their aid in addressing the deplorable road condition.
He disclosed that in the Education and Health Sectors, things are fine. “Even though, there are enough medicines available at the Hospital, we do not have enough Doctors to serve certain areas,” he said.
He intimated that he has paid several visits to the Hospital, noting that the food is fine and that they have ten hours of electricity supply every night; adding that the death rate has reduced considerably. He then lauded the efforts of Government for the support given to them in the District, adding that without this support they would find it difficult to survive in the District.
He also said that he has visited the prison several times and that things are very much under control. There is little or political activity at the moment, he said, as people are now focusing on development. The Chairman also disclosed that Ward Committees have been set up in the twenty-nine (29) Wards in the District; with membership based on performance.
By Saffa Moriba