The President, Brigadier (retired) Julius Maada Bio on Saturday, November 14, 2020 commissioned the construction of Funkia Road and section of the Femi-Turner-Gbendebu Junction road project. Funkia is a big community located at Goderich in the Western Area Rural District that lodges thousands of inhabitants who mostly rely on fishing as their major source of livelihood.
The 1.35 kilometre road, which is estimated to cost a little over $USD 3.4 million and solely funded by the Government of Sierra Leone, will ease access to a once remote but economically viable community around the capital, Freetown. The construction is part of the Waterloo Rural Coastal Road project that forms part of the Tokeh-Lumley Road.
Before he turned the sod that formally marked the start of construction, President Bio recalled the deplorable status of the road during his visit to the community as far back as 2012 when he was in opposition and re-emphasized the commitment of his government to human capital and economic development.
He acknowledged the many challenges faced by traders in that community, but noted that quality road network will help to ease some of those challenges. “The construction of this road is intended to positively impact the livelihood of traders and other members in this community by not only reducing the cost of transportation and easing the movement of goods, but it will also, change the face of the community and attract tourism”, he explained.
Explaining the content of the project, the Director General of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), Ing. Amara Kanneh informed the gathering that the project caters for the road that leads to the jetty, the construction of a road with proper drainage structure, a bridge and rehabilitation of the old community market.
Testimonies by representatives from market women, bike riders, fishermen and drivers recounted the daily challenges and expenses they suffer during the rainy and dry seasons when plying the deplorable route. The Chairlady of the Market Women Group, Kadiatu Mansaray, expressed joy for witnessing the launch of the construction and stated that the road will ease the movement of their goods and eventually attract more development in the community.
Also, the Chairman of Goderich Fishermen Union, Alusine Mansaray, lamented the struggles that they faced on the deplorable road and expressed hope that the exorbitant fees that they pay to transport their fishing products would reduce after the completion of the road. “Fishing is a major employment scheme for us in this community. Every fishing boat employs about 20 men as crew members and most of the members are household heads”, he explained.
The construction of the Funkia-Goderich road is expected to be completed in June 2021. The Acting Minister of Works and Public Assets, Honourable Philip Tondoneh committed his ministry to partner with SLRA, Road Maintenance Fund Administration, the Office of Presidential Infrastructure Initiative (OPII) and National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) to properly monitor and ensure that the road will be constructed in record time.
Residents of the Funkia community were encouraged to help in the monitoring process and corporate with the contractors to enhance timely delivery.
Source: Communications Unit, Sierra Leone Roads Authority
19/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7954