After almost two decades of cut off, residents of Pepper Wharf, in Tombo Community are now assured of socio-economic hope, with the re-construction of a 200 metre bridge in the community.
Tombo in the Western Area Rural District has a population of over six thousand inhabitants who depend on fishing as the main economic livelihood.
Women and children are in greater number and they have been victims of socio-economic strangulation due to the non-accessibility linking the main road to Pepper Wharf, which is the main landing site for fishing boats around the Western Area Rural District and the country at large.
After several appeals from residents, Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Trade, with support from the World Bank recently re-constructed the 200 metre bridge which for almost two decades denied the people access to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, making life very difficult, despite the huge fishing potential in the community.
According to residents of the community, the re-construction of the bridge has brought new hope for them through the Rural Private Sector Development Project (RPSDP), noting that the socio-economic activities which has been dormant for a long time is now a reality.
The community head, Mohamed Mansaray, a native of Tombo explained to this medium that the project became a reality through active community mobilisation and participation through several community meetings with staff of RPSDP.
Mr Mansaray stated that through the re-construction of the community bridge, Pepper Wharf has also benefited from a market including a two fish processing centres to further boost economic activity in the community.
Isatu Bankole who is chairlady for the market women expressed appreciation to Government and its partners for restoring hope to the community, noting that with access business is gradually booming because customers from far and within are contributing positively to their livelihood, which has changed their lives.
Despite the benefit of a bridge, market and fish processing centre, residents of Tombo are experiencing several other challenges that need urgent attention in order that they achieve the full benefit a fishing community deserves to meet International standards and further reduce the burden of fish preservation on the women.
By Ade Campbell
Tuesday December 15, 2015
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