THE ENVIRONMENT
The Kamakwie-Makeni Road is a Nightmare
By Rev. Paul Bala Samura
Jun 1, 2008, 19:30

Pot holes as huge as this are common on the road to Kamakwie in

Attitudinal change is a compulsory prescription for all Sierra Leoneans and foreign citizens, if the present APC led-government is to achieve great national improvement and acclamation. And certainly road construction and rehabilitation should form part of this prescription. The Kamakwie-Makeni Road is the most rocked road in the Bombali District. This rough and untared 55 mile road has been there long before independence but worst was the period between 1961 till date when this short distance road had five parliamentarians representing that axis such as Edward J. Kargbo, Eddie Turay, Thamu Bangura, A.B.Fofanah and, Amara Kamara and Sembu Fornah. Mr. Alpha Timbo the SLPP minister of Labour  and Mr. Abdulai , former SLPP Attorney-general and minister of Justice, also hailed from the same route (Rokulan), yet they could not contribute to the road’s rehabilitation.  

It was ironical that Edward Kargbo held the ministry of Works and transport yet this road remained a nightmare. In fact, it was during his tenure of office that this road claimed many lives especially the famous katontoro hill (three miles to Kamakwie) and several death-trap and unprotected bridges. Only God knows how many precious may have perished there over the years. While the 114 Freetown-Makeni road takes two hours, the 55 mile road takes four to five roads at its best season and eight to ten hours in the wet season to cover this short distant. The road has over 40 bridges most of which are made of logs with little or no protection at all.

Speaking to some citizens of  Sella Limba/Sanda Loko Constituency, they outlined three major and urgent needs viz; rehabilitation of the Kamakwie-Makeni Road, electricity supply and provision of tap water. Kamakwie-Makeni road leads to Guinea which is the shortest way to that country and 50% of the cattle used in Sierra Leone come thorough this route. The Kamakwie-Makeni road lies across the following big towns; Panlap, Kalangba, Gbendembu, Rokulan, Rogbore, Madina, Kamaranka, Kamalo and Kamakwie.

The rainy season is here and travelers to that part of the country are beginning to day-dream their journeys. While passengers pay high fares and spend long hours on the road, drivers spend more money on gas and reconditioning of their vehicles. Any trip to Kamakwie during this period is a nightmare. On behalf of the people of Bombali North, I am appealing to the parliamentary representatives along this road: Hon Marie Yansaneh, Hon Marie Conteh-Jalloh, Hon Eddie Turay, Hon. Kande Bangura and, the various paramount chiefs and the resident minister to prioritize these needs and especially the construction of the Kamakwie-Makeni road.  When this road would have been constructed, farmers would easily export their produce to Makeni or Freetown, and it will provide easy access for traders to buy or sell their merchandise.

In fact these parliamentarians would be praised if they could only construct the Kamakwie-Makeni road during their first five-year term. They will surely be voted for a second term.