Commuters on the Navrongo-Fumbisi road have expressed concerns about the deplorable state of the road, which has lasted for over ten years.
According to them, the state of the road has affected their livelihoods, particularly business, as Fumbisi serves as the district’s primary grain market; the dilapidated road connecting surrounding towns to the market has become a significant obstacle.
In an interview with Xtreme Media online on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, commuters of the Navrongo-Fumbisi road revealed that the road’s deplorable condition poses significant challenges, particularly during the rainy season, even for service providers such as educators who need to travel through the area.
“Commuters from different parts of the region normally find it difficult, especially during rainy seasons, to access the market, and then also educators and workers who also provide their services to the neighboring communities in the Builsa District, so it has affected businesses and commuters who render their services.” Antangane Joe is a resident of Navrongo who uses the road to Fumbisi, and this is what he said.
Read also: Water crisis hits UDS Nyankpala Campus, affects students’ health and academic performance
Faustina Asum is a vendor at the Fumbisi Market who stays at Navrongo. She explained that because of the state of the road, cars that work on the road are limited, noting that she has to board the cargo truck if she is not able to wake up at 4:00 am to catch the troski.
“The dusty nature of the road is very bad, and it makes it hard for me to transport my goods back to Navrongo. It is very expensive due to the nature of the road. I have to join a cargo truck and go to the place if I am not able to get up as early as 4am for the trotro, which leaves Navrongo at 5am,” she said.
Oscar Abagneba is a resident of Sandema who rides a motorcycle as business on the Navrongo-Fumbisi road. He shared his frustration about how he and other riders have to service their motorcycles almost every two days because of the condition of the road.
“If we go on the road like two times, we have to go and service our vehicles. It has become a routine. You work, get money, and go and fix your motor and come back; move two days, get money, and go and fix your motor. It’s not helping the guys,” he said.
View this post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14DSZrhEHWz/
According to commuters, the Chchuliga-Sandema-Fumbisi road, which is about 40 km, was awarded on contract to Myturn Construction Limited in 2016 but did not see any significant improvements over the years due to the government’s inability to honor certificates raised by the contractors. Since then they have had to deal with the difficulties that come with travelling on the road.
They explained how long it takes to get to their destination and called on the Mahama government to revisit the road so that businesses can bloom again.