By Ibrahim Bakarr Kamara
Moyiba Community is situated at the eastern part of Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, with approximately over fifty thousand residents predominantly youth. For over two decades, these residents have been plugged into deplorable road condition which prompted some residents to express their dismay over the bad road condition that has been lingering for over twenty years.
Speaking to this medium, the section chief one of Moyiba community, Chief Yaraba Bangura described the current condition of Moyiba road as a death trap, and thus, the road is the only access road that links the entire community to major roads in the city. Chief Yaraba Bangura further highlighted some dangerous accident occurred on the road due to its bad condition, adding that the road has left many disabled while the community remains insignificantly underdeveloped. “Road is very significant in the development of countries, communities and increase the beauty of cities, Chief Yaraba said”. He noted that several important personalities have refused to live in the community due to its deplorable road condition.
Chief Yaraba Bangura revealed how far they have gone to engaging authorities especially government over the dilapidated condition of Moyiba road, and how they could help them construct the only access road in their community. “Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) has an office nearby the community and we have had several meetings with them over the years regarding the poor condition of the road, till date, nothing tangible seems to have been done in salvaging the poor road situation, Chief Yaraba Bangura explained”. He asserted that the terrible road condition has crippled the community in terms of social transformation and economic viability especially raining season.
Chief Yaraba Bangura further affirmed that Moyiba community have over Ten Primary Schools with over five secondary schools aimed to give quality education to pupils, noting that a good number of these pupils are living outside of the community, who always ply on the said road with the aim of getting education, and many have involved into road crashes that had force them not to proceed their education due to the bad condition of the road. He said that the community is vulnerable and that the bad road condition has restricted the police to carryout night patrols, aimed curbing crime rate in the community.
Foday K. Conteh is the Chairman of PWD Old Road bike riders in an interview confirmed to this press, during the rains, the road is trooped with mud and portholes and this has led to serious road crashes especially to his members who frequently use the road on commercial purposes. He continued that the poor road condition has affected their daily livelihood and as well devastated, ruined, disturbed, affected and caused distressed among business people, school going pupils, university students and the aged in the community. ‘’ The number of road crashes by bike riders across the road in monthly basses especially during the raining season is worrisome amidst the poor road condition of the Moyiba road’’, Chairman Foday noted.
He further revealed that with the frantic collaboration with some vibrant youth organizations in the community they have been embarking on continues ball patching on the road in order to maintain the deplorable road condition. He mentioned that the government needs to consider Moyiba community when it comes to development.
However, both climaxed their concerns by appealing to the government and concern stakeholders to redeem the community from this unfortunate situation especially during the rains.