The Road Contract; MyTurn, Your Turn, Our Turn

MYTURN: MyTurn is a popular road contractor in the Upper East region of Ghana, also called Lesken in Bolga. He is a politically-affiliated contractor who does his job in the heat of the political moment. This contractor is known for constructing roads in political seasons. An example is the Talensi-Winkogo road which he was awarded on contract for over four years but only came to construct it when it was announced that a by-election was about to happen in the area. He was forced to work even at night to ensure the road gets done before the bye-election day. He had no option than to use torchlights to work, fearing that a loss to the then ruling NDC party will automatically deny him future contracts.

Gutters in Sandema town were constructed less than a month to the 2016 election

This is the same contractor who was awarded the Navrongo-Sandema-Weisi road contract in the heat of another political season, the 2016 elections. When the campaign was in the last stretch, this contractor rushed to the area with loads of expensive equipment and started working with all seriousness, constructing culverts and gutters every day, just to convince the citizens of Buluk that the work would be completed if the NDC was retained in power because they were already on it with so much zeal.

After the elections which saw a monumental loss for the NDC, the contractor cannot be found on site again, although his trucks and other equipment are still at their location. Some speculated that he had taken a break from work and would resume soon afterward. Unfortunately for these people, this contractor seems to have gone back to his usual style of work; wasting time until the next political season arrives so he could return to deceive the people of Buluk again.


YOUR TURN: This is not your turn to play the politics of equalization as a concerned Buloa. As a citizen of Buluk [not an overzealous political spectator ], it is your turn to demand that this project is executed with the seriousness it deserves.

When President Nana Akufo-Addo visited Buluk recently, he made it clear to the chiefs and people of Buluk that the necessary funds have been made available for the construction of this road.

Although the contractor previously claimed no funds were made available, he has not denied the president's assertion. It is now the turn of concerned Bulsa to rise up and demand what rightly belongs to them. This is not the time for coward play.

OUR TURN: Our turn as Bulsa is to monitor the works of the contractor and ensure he is doing a good job because this is an opportunity to take our share of the national cake and we cannot allow ourselves to be shortchanged. Posterity will not leave us if we sit idle and allow things to continue to deteriorate at the alarming rate they are witnessing.

We must ensure the road and everything about it meets our expectations and beyond because we are the beneficiaries. We must eschew cowardice and make our voices heard and opinions known. We can't just observe and expect a good job to be done.

PS: This is not a call to re-award the contract. However, I believe our honorable DCEs can read between the lines and advise the president accordingly.

Always endeavor to be a citizen of Buluk and not a political and parochial spectator!
Buluk must rise now!!!