Zingu, Wa Municipality - In a sobering disappointment for the residents of Zingu, the ambitious Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project, which was earmarked for significant improvements in their community, has largely failed to meet expectations. Funded at a whopping 1.2 million Ghana Cedis, the project aimed to rehabilitate the critically important Wa-Zingu road, but few months after the initial work, tangible improvements remain elusive, raising serious concerns among community members.
The Wa Municipal Assembly, acting as a partner implementing agency for the SOCO project, awarded a contract to Licus Enterprise, a local firm led by a businessman who has become the focal point for community frustration. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Wa, Alhaji Issahku Tahiru, spoke optimistically about the project when he revealed the details in a recent interview with Info Radio. The scope of the project included grading the road from Wa Mangu - Dam to Zingu, implementing spot improvements, and constructing two new concrete culverts to augment the existing drainage system in the Zingu Valley.
However, recent checks by Info Radio at the community have painted a different picture. While the initial grading work was completed, residents noted that the substantial spot improvements needed on various road segments—particularly those in poor condition—were either neglected or poorly executed. Just a few months following the contractor's initial efforts, the road has rapidly deteriorated back to its original bad state, leaving residents frustrated and confused about the value of the significant financial investment made into the project.
Further exacerbating the situation is the performance of the drainage system designed to manage water flow in the Zingu Valley, which connects the communities. Residents reported that only one main drain culvert and two smaller culverts had been constructed. Unfortunately, the quality of the drainage work was reportedly subpar, as the contractor failed to adequately stone pitch the newly built culverts. As a result, the grave downturn in weather during the August 2024 rains has already washed away the gravel used for pitching, rendering the constructions ineffective and exposing the communities once again to potential flooding.
"I don't know why they thought these small culverts would be sufficient to handle the sheer volume of water that flows through here," lamented Naa Nuhu Yuoni, the Chief of Zingu, who cited worsening conditions since the rains began. "We told the contractor before they constructed them, but it seems our concerns fell on deaf ears."
Many residents expressed profound disappointment not only with the contractor but also with the Wa Municipal Assembly for apparently failing to deliver a lasting solution to their longstanding infrastructure problems. They are left questioning the rationale behind investing 1.2 million Ghana Cedis in their community when no visible improvements have been realized.
Mr. Nuhu Abdul-Wahab, the Assembly Member for the Zingu Electoral Area, voiced his discontent with the contractor's poor execution on the project. "We don't see any value for the money that has been spent here. The work is inadequate and does not reflect the investment. I urge the SOCO secretariat to conduct a thorough investigation into this project because the community deserves better."
The MCE, Alhaji Issahku Tahiru, took a different tone when discussing the work of the contractor, expressing satisfaction despite many growing concerns. "The contractor has delivered on certain aspects of the project. While there are areas for improvement, I believe it is essential to allow some time for the project to stabilize," he said during his interview with Info Radio. However, he did not provide contact details for Licus Enterprise, leaving many in the community frustrated by the lack of direct communication with those responsible for the project’s execution.
Wa MCE MCE, Alhaji Issahku Tahiru
In a surprising development, the contractor appeared on-site last week to address some of the community’s complaints, filling in the gravels washed away from the culverts and patching potholes along the road. However, many residents viewed these actions as too little, too late. They expressed skepticism about whether the patchwork solutions would be able to withstand future rains or if they genuinely deserved the investment made by the Wa Municipal Assembly and the SOCO initiative.
The mixed messages from both the municipal assembly and the contractor come at a critical moment for the Zingu community, which has seen rising expectations with the announcement of the SOCO project. What began with hope seems now drenched in disappointment as residents grapple with unanswered questions about the future of their road.
While some minor efforts have been made to address concerns, the collective sentiment among residents is that they deserve a comprehensive solution that not only meets basic needs but also aligns with the significant financial investment made on their behalf. Continued advocacy from community members, local leaders, and perhaps external monitoring may be necessary to ensure that the SOCO Project can fulfill its original promise of improving social cohesion and infrastructure in the Zingu area. For now, the Zingu community remains in limbo, yearning for tangible, lasting improvements that can withstand the test of time and weather.
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