GUMA UNDERMINES GOOD ROAD NETWORK
Following widespread condemnation from residents of Freetown about the activities of Guma Valley Water Company in the city, the company has again come under the negative spotlight.
The intersection between Congo Cross and Kingharman Road west of Freetown has become Guma’s hydrant station. This new ‘station’ has caused serious embarrassment for road users in the city as almost all the tarred covering in that road have been uprooted. This is largely due to the fact that the constant siphoning of water by giant trucks has left hug potholes in the road making it very difficult for pedestrians and vehicles to have smooth ride towards the National Stadium end.
The potholes are gradually eating into the main motor road of Congo Cross, the road which is use by thousand of people every day. Another unsatisfactorily activities of Guma in that area is the manner in which the water bowzers queue taking up one of the four lanes of the main road; they almost bring traffic to a halt.
This situation is not going down well with residents of Kingharman road who are suffering most and other road users. “We are facing serious embarrassment especially at night. We are swimming from one pot hole to another. Something must be done to bring this situation to an end,” said John Sawyer of Kingharman road.
Mr. Sawyer went on to say that the road was in good condition other until Guma stepped in. “This is one of the roads leading to the National Stadium, besides that we have very important personality in the community who are using this road.”
Investigation carried out by SALONE TIMES indicates that the Guma hydrant station was first located at Wilkinson Road west of Freetown but was ask out due to the construction of that road by the Chinese Seven Railway Group in July 2010. At that station drivers raised eyebrows over Guma’s activities as they were facing serious traffic jam when they want to make their way to the City center.
Most people SALONE TIMES spoke to condemn Guma describing the company as one of Government institutions that has not lived up to expatiation. “If at all proper plans are put in place for adequate water supply in the city there is no need for them to be siphoning water everywhere in the city,” said Samura Sesay of Congo Town in Freetown.
She went on to say that Guma is notorious for street digging or laying pipes causing more damage to the roads especially those that have just been repaired by SLRA.
When contacted at their Guma building in Central Freetown the Chief Engineer of Guma denied the claim of them being the cause of the potholes. He said the damage of that road was due to the rains.
The Chief Engineer statement was quickly debunked by residents of that area saying the road was in good order until Guma took over it.
A senior staff of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) said Guma’s work in the city is unsatisfactory as most of the damage done on the roads is done by them. He said they will soon come out with a policy to ensure that the road is in good order at all times.
He urged them to organize themselves properly to ensure that proper plans are put in place to supply adequate water to residents of Freetown.
Guma was spotted stuffing clay on the pot holes as a way for them to cover up their disgraceful destruction.
The intersection between Congo Cross and Kingharman Road west of Freetown has become Guma’s hydrant station. This new ‘station’ has caused serious embarrassment for road users in the city as almost all the tarred covering in that road have been uprooted. This is largely due to the fact that the constant siphoning of water by giant trucks has left hug potholes in the road making it very difficult for pedestrians and vehicles to have smooth ride towards the National Stadium end.
The potholes are gradually eating into the main motor road of Congo Cross, the road which is use by thousand of people every day. Another unsatisfactorily activities of Guma in that area is the manner in which the water bowzers queue taking up one of the four lanes of the main road; they almost bring traffic to a halt.
This situation is not going down well with residents of Kingharman road who are suffering most and other road users. “We are facing serious embarrassment especially at night. We are swimming from one pot hole to another. Something must be done to bring this situation to an end,” said John Sawyer of Kingharman road.
Mr. Sawyer went on to say that the road was in good condition other until Guma stepped in. “This is one of the roads leading to the National Stadium, besides that we have very important personality in the community who are using this road.”
Investigation carried out by SALONE TIMES indicates that the Guma hydrant station was first located at Wilkinson Road west of Freetown but was ask out due to the construction of that road by the Chinese Seven Railway Group in July 2010. At that station drivers raised eyebrows over Guma’s activities as they were facing serious traffic jam when they want to make their way to the City center.
Most people SALONE TIMES spoke to condemn Guma describing the company as one of Government institutions that has not lived up to expatiation. “If at all proper plans are put in place for adequate water supply in the city there is no need for them to be siphoning water everywhere in the city,” said Samura Sesay of Congo Town in Freetown.
She went on to say that Guma is notorious for street digging or laying pipes causing more damage to the roads especially those that have just been repaired by SLRA.
When contacted at their Guma building in Central Freetown the Chief Engineer of Guma denied the claim of them being the cause of the potholes. He said the damage of that road was due to the rains.
The Chief Engineer statement was quickly debunked by residents of that area saying the road was in good order until Guma took over it.
A senior staff of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) said Guma’s work in the city is unsatisfactory as most of the damage done on the roads is done by them. He said they will soon come out with a policy to ensure that the road is in good order at all times.
He urged them to organize themselves properly to ensure that proper plans are put in place to supply adequate water to residents of Freetown.
Guma was spotted stuffing clay on the pot holes as a way for them to cover up their disgraceful destruction.
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