Residents along the Tumu‑Banu road have asked the contractor to increase the size and height of several bridges to cope with heavy rainwater during the peak rainy season in northern Burkina Faso.
The road is being built by Mawums Construction Limited under the Government’s Big Push for Infrastructure Development Programme. While the communities praise the contractor’s quality work, they fear that some bridges, notably the Kunchogu‑Kawuragu bridge, are too low and will flood during heavy rains.
Assembly Member Seidu Sumaila Butu of the Banu Electoral Area told the Ghana News Agency that the Kunchogu‑Kawuragu bridge “is too low and risked being submerged whenever there was heavy rainfall.” He also said gutters in the Kunchogu community were poorly constructed and that an abandoned gutter had become a mosquito breeding ground.
Assembly Member for Kunchorkor echoed the concerns, stressing the need for bridges that can withstand heavy water flows and protect the road from damage. Resident Borsu Siafu of Dimajang complained that narrow gutters had narrowed the road and that there were no designated parking spaces for vehicles.
Mr Siafu urged the contractor to review and, where necessary, expand the bridge between Tumu and Naveriewie and the Kunchorkor bridge to accommodate unexpected water volumes. Poultry farmer Roger Forkor welcomed the road project, thanked President John Dramani Mahama for tarring the road, and noted it had been in poor condition since independence.
Queen Mother Kapio Awuyigave Ali Maria I of Banu called for the road network to be extended to schools and clinics, and urged the technical team to carefully review the bridges for durability during heavy rains.
Project Manager Adongo William of Mawums Construction said the concerns were being considered and that engineers would work to address issues with bridges and drainage structures. MP Issah Mohammed Bataglia of Sissala East said the concerns would be brought to the contractor’s attention and urged constituents to support the project’s completion.
As construction continues, residents remain hopeful that the contractor will make the necessary adjustments to prevent flooding and ensure the road’s longevity.
