By Abu Kalokoh
If you are in some parts of the world or perhaps some areas in Sierra Leone and you happen to listen to a narration that a journey of 45 minutes will now last for four hours or so, as a result of the terrible road from Magburaka to Bumbuna you would think that is either a misrepresentation of the facts or an exaggeration.
Anyone wishing to travel to Bumbuna nowadays will have to enquire about the road network and how vehicular transportation has been grounded. This is due to the bad roads worsened by heavy trucks of mining companies to be replaced by Motorbikes that charge exorbitant fares and had to “sardined” passengers to embark on the peril journey.
I  have made a wacky suggestion that we should just  abandon that route and focus on either rehabilitating the Makeni/ Binkolo to Bumbuna road or better still the Mabonto Makelfa , Yunaya , Negekoro road, leading  to Bumbuna otherwise we will never get it right as long as these companies continue to use that road.
It is mostly the case that roads in mining communities are in deplorable shapes and hazardous, so Bumbuna is not alone  in this and the counter to this menace   should be a vibrant advocacy group that will checkmate the excesses of the mining companies.
Companies owe the communities they operate a big obligation not limited to their CSR and they should be compelled to meet these duties as that is the only way they can pay back to the host communities. This is by giving back just a little from what they have acquired as a result of their activities and the destruction they might have caused during the cause of mining.
Some strange happenings have also taken place as the cultural and social fabrics that once held the beautiful township of Bumbuna together has also been destroyed as a result of either the mining activities.or the advert of social media that has brought in a situation wherein discussions are held more often.=
This could also be the result of the war when  most youths became more ambitious and decided to move to other areas of the country or abroad to seek further knowledge.   If you are also confronted with the fact that a township that is located in a district that sits in the center of Sierra Leone, contributing a better percentage to the country’s GDP and is the hub for electricity generation but is witnessing a situation where the  remains of someone could be tied to a Wood on a Motorbike to be taken to a nearby village, you would also argue that this cant be true. In all of these experiences, my biggest regret has to do with the fact that I could not have captured the image of the corpse on the motorbike because ethics could not permit me.
I had wanted to show the world how those we elect to represent us both at the local and central levels have failed us in every aspect and how their words do not match their actions. I am not even sure as to whether the township has an Ambulance service and the medical situation has been so bad to a point that if you report for stomach pain ,the medical team will still diagnose you for Malaria and Typhoid.How did we get there?
A Lady who was familiar with the manner in which corpses are transported had spotted it on the Motor bike and her narration took a nose dive when she said there are ambulances at the government hospital in Magburaka but you need to be financially fit to access one.
The bereaved family will have to pay a fee to the Ambulance Coordinator and also purchase fuel before any such vehicle could to provided whilst those who cannot afford to, have to settle for a Bike at a cheaper rate.
However, my attempt to talk to the medical staff at the Magburaka government could not yield results as they would not talk to the press.
Again if you have a friend or relative that has just visited and witnessed the presentation of a one billion five hundred thousand Leones as payment for surface rent for two Chiefdoms you would be wondering as to whether the person was narrating a Nigerian movie as that payment did not match up to the wealth and minerals exported to the factories in China.
I was in Bumbuna between 7th 9th August 2024 to pay my last respect to the late Mr. Josiah who was also a father figure and an epitome of a character larger than life.
His great value for human relationship and the satisfaction he engendered is hardly found in this part of the world where every penny is worth fighting for.
He was a humble man whom many had trust on to medically treat their children, as he was a man who devoted his life serving humanity as a medical officer for over three decades until his demise on 30th July this year.
And for such a personality I had to peril my life by embarking on the irksome journey to witness  his funeral
Leave a Reply