By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope Reporter
Residents and traders in Kenema District are calling on government to urgently rehabilitate the Mano Junction–Bumpeh road, warning that its worsening condition is increasing the cost of living and slowing economic activity across several communities.
The corridor links Mano Junction to Bumpeh, Tongo and other surrounding towns, and serves as a key route for the movement of people, goods and fuel. But transport operators say large sections of the road have deteriorated, leading to longer travel times, higher fuel consumption and frequent vehicle breakdowns.
Traders operating along the route say the spike in transport costs has forced them to raise prices on basic commodities, including rice. They note that consumers are now shouldering the burden at a time when household budgets are already stretched.
Fuel supply has also been hit. Residents report that tankers often struggle to navigate the damaged road, resulting in delayed deliveries, intermittent shortages at filling stations, and in some cases, higher pump prices. Businesses that rely on steady fuel supplies say operations have been disrupted.
Farmers and small-scale traders say the situation is equally affecting agriculture. They explain that moving produce to market now takes longer, and perishable goods frequently arrive late or spoiled. The delays have cut into farmers’ earnings while pushing food prices up for buyers.
Community leaders have appealed to the Government of Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority to prioritize repairs on the Mano Junction–Bumpeh stretch. They argue that fixing the road would lower transport costs, improve the flow of goods and services, stabilize food and fuel supplies, and stimulate business in Tongo and nearby areas.
For many residents, the rehabilitation is not just about infrastructure. They describe it as an economic intervention that would reduce vehicle operating costs, shorten travel times, attract investment, and create opportunities for farmers and traders.
Local stakeholders say they are willing to work with government and development partners on sustainable maintenance. But they caution that without urgent action, families, traders and farmers along the corridor will continue to bear the economic cost of a failing road network.
_For more information, contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com
