Some women farmers and Gari processors at Nakpayili in the Nanumba south district of the northern region say the bad nature of roads in their area was affecting their livelihoods situations.
According to the women, several attempts made to empower themselves economically including market access are been hampered by the deteriorated nature of roads leading to the area since they are unable to cart agricultural produce to market centres.
Aside that commercial vehicles and trucks either refuse to ply the roads or charge them extra to convey foods to buying centers.
This situation the women farmers told Diamond News during a recent visit, could further deepen their woes, hence they want government to prioritize the construction of the eastern corridor roads which is also the food hub of the northern region, so that it would save them from hardships.
“its a nightmare, carting processed Gari to some part of the region. main access roads here at Nakpayili and other parts of Nanun, are so deplorable that for fear of breakdown, vehicle drivers owners wouldn’t want to come here.
our homes are inundated with hundreds of processed Gari bags, but then no one to buy. its really affecting our quest to become economically independent, as women”, an aggrieved Gari processor said.
a peasant farmer, Sanatu Abdulai, lamented that,” its so hurtful that after our toils on the field, we cant even guarantee a ready market for our produce. our produce are wasting away because, we cannot get vehicles to convey the produce to Yendi, Tamale and other areas because of the poor nature of the road”.
The eastern corridor road construction project, which was begun under the NDC administration is expected to bring some relief to inhabitants in that area. However the transition from then NDC, to New Patriotic Party stalled the roads construction somewhat, until recently when work begun again.
Source:diamondfmonline.com/Ibrahim Rafiu Dawuni
