Accra: Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister-designate, has declared that rehabilitating the long-neglected 7.5 km Asonge-Pelungu road in the Nabdam District will be one of his foremost priorities if he is approved as a minister. He emphasized the adverse impact of the road's poor condition on local mobility, economic activities, and the broader development potential of the district and the region.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Akamugri made these remarks during his appearance before Parliament's Appointment Committee in Accra. He highlighted the connection between the road's improvement and the enhancement of tourism and economic activities in the region. "Surely, if I become the regional minister, the rehabilitation of the Asonge-Pelungu road would be one of my top priorities because it has a certain connection to the tourist attractions in our region and improving it would boost economic activities and facilitate the movement of people," he stated.
Mr Akamugri also pointed out the challenges posed by the existence of only one major highway connecting Tamale in the Northern Region to Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. This single route becomes particularly problematic during conflicts, as it complicates efforts for residents to escape danger and navigate safely. He noted that, upon approval, he would work with the Minister of Roads and Highway to consider constructing an overpass along the highway to provide alternative routes for safer travel.
The Asonge-Pelungu road, originally built in 1957, serves as a crucial link between communities in the Zoliba and Sakoti electoral areas and the main Bolgatanga-Bawku highway. Although the government awarded a contract for its rehabilitation in 2018, with work intended to start in May 2018 and be completed by May 2019, progress stalled, and the contractor abandoned the site after building only a few bridges.
On June 20, 2022, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, raised a question in Parliament regarding the status of the road. The then Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Amoako Atta, acknowledged the road's poor condition and stated that the Feeder Roads Department was in the process of terminating the existing contract and repackaging the project, given the contractor's abandonment despite several warnings.
