Looking Glass: Nkambe-Ako Road Turns Deadly as Ghastly Accident Claims 1

I have often heard people say that it is forbidden to make a critical judgment analysis on the state of roads and that making such a critical judgment is like writing satanic verses that lead to divine sentence. But let the word go forth from this time and medium to the Minister of Public Works who is expected to launch some road projects in the North West region tomorrow May 16, 2017 that the stretch of road from Nkambe to Ako is calamity, calamity, calamity…. In fact it is the latest “dead trap” in the Division.

At about 11 am, today May 15, a Land Rover had a ghastly accident on that road claiming one life. The driver of the vehicle Bala Seidou died on the spot and was consumed by fire. The story goes that Bala Seidou was on his way to Berabe market with his usual customers. While at the Ntumbe in Kungi, the Land rover had breaks failure. He managed and hit it into the gutter due to the poor state of the road. The passengers who were in the car jumped out. Considering the gravity of the shock, the steering wheel blocked him. The vehicle caught fire and all attempts by the passenger to rescue the driver flopped. He was then consumed by fire.  This is however a dilemma as traveling from Nkambe to Ako is not just a nightmare but demands a week of serious fasting and prayer because you never know when you will get to your destination.The ghastly motor accident which occurred approximately 4 km away from Nkambe town tells the story of how bad the road is very bad ahead. Tongues are still waging in Nkambe over the accident as many have been wondering over the state of nature of that road. 

However, anyone who would maladroitly declare that this road is not a necessity or a priority should be considered as being in a state of sin. Even though there is a statement in the Bible which states that people should not pass round for judges on others, I believe it is often quoted out of context because the Bible still tells us that people should be judged if their acts are injurious. I am aware that this critical judgment analysis is badly needed. It is imperative because the people of Donga Mantung are in tears again and the bells of anguish are being heard signaling that Ako may cease to exist in the map of this country due to the state of nature of the road. That is tragic but a kind of insane horror like this road which sometimes ago, the Member of Parliament for Ako Hon. Abe Michael, the Mayor of Ako Council Akio Augustine and the Divisional Officer decided to go up to the road to carryout road maintenance with hand tools. The present state of nature of this will will soon make Ako Sub division an Island on land. Yet the economic potentials of Ako cannot be neglected. Ako is the breadbasket to Donga Mantung Division and environs. It is the citadel of palm oil and by-products. It is rich in non timber forest products and more so oranges, maize and cocoa is cultivated in large scale in the area. Besides, Ako custom post used to generate the highest revenue in the region. With the present state of nature, it is feared everything is declining. More so, speculations are high at that more than 75% of farm produce in that area may end up in a waste due to lack of access road as it has turned into a dead trap.

 



When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)