The Saboba district is one of the marginalized districts in Ghana. The district lacks a lot of pertinent governmental projects. Amongst the many projects that are lacking in the district are clinics, proper schools, and proper roads amongst others.
The very major road that links the district to major towns and cities is the Yendi to Saboba road, which ends up linking Saboba with Tamale. Unfortunately, this road has become an albatross on the neck of the people of the district and commuters of the road.
The roads have claimed a lot of precious lives of both indigenes and non-indigenes. A lot of students who go to nearby communities to attend school are unable to go sometimes in the rainy season. Many government workers who are posted to the district refuse to go. Those who have agreed to go, also take transfers to “run away” within a few years mainly because of the deplorable road network.
The main part of the road that cuts Saboba from the neighbouring Yendi district is the Kpalba bridge. This bridge has been a problem for the district for a very long time. The construction of the road from Yendi to Saboba has been started by the erstwhile government under their eastern corridor road construction. The construction was unfortunately brought to a halt after the exit of the NDC government, therefore, creating a coastal end on the stretch. It is interesting to note that water overfloods the bridge every year.
Last year, the bridge was submerged such that it blocked B.E.C.E candidates from reaching their centre to write their exams until they used canoes without life jackets.
In the month of August 2023, a district assembly director and an auditor were killed in a fatal road accident on that road when they were returning from Tamale after a meeting.
These and many more appear to have exasperated the youth of the district who have organized a demonstration on 25th August, 2023 to drum home the challenges of the district. The demonstration was made up of people from all walks of life. Members from all political divides, religious groups, Konkomba Youth Association (KoYA) and civil servant groups.
It is the hope of the demonstrators that their challenge will be resolved.
Source: BANIRA ISSAHAKU KODJI (Youth advocate)
