By : Our News Reporter

Leaders in Zombo District have attributed the persistent poor state of roads at the lower local government level to inadequate road maintenance equipment, with the district currently operating only one functional unit of road equipment.

Zombo District LCV Chairperson James Oruna Oyullu said the shortage has significantly affected the district’s ability to provide timely road maintenance support to sub-counties and other lower local governments.

Oyullu said the limited equipment has left several lower local governments struggling to maintain roads, despite repeated requests for assistance from the district.

The concerns come against the backdrop of a broader national shortage of road maintenance equipment. A recent Auditor General’s report indicated that 19 local governments had no road equipment at all, while 137 districts had inadequate machinery. The report also found that 119 local governments were operating with non-functional road equipment during the period assessed.

The shortage has raised concerns over the ability of local governments to maintain community roads that are critical for access to markets, schools, health facilities and other essential services.

Zombo District Woman Member of Parliament Topista Acamfua pledged to use available parliamentary and government platforms to raise the matter and push for national intervention to address the equipment shortage.

While most major roads under the supervision of Zombo District remain motorable, significant challenges persist on roads managed at the lower local government level.

Several sub-counties have continued to appeal to the district for road maintenance support, citing inadequate funding at the sub-county level as another major obstacle to keeping community roads in good condition.

Leaders say strengthening local governments with adequate and functional road equipment would improve routine maintenance and reduce the deterioration of roads across the district.