Sanda Magbolontor Residents Cry For Help

By Emmanuel D-LION

The issue of travelling through the gateway to Sanda Magbolonthor Chiefdom inside Kamakwie Town in the  Karene District, Northern Sierra Leone, is presently very tedious and dangerous for indegenes at that part of the country, due to the total breakdown of the Mabanta Ferry for the past two (2) weeks now.

According to stakeholders at that part of the country, the rope which is used to pull the ferry out of the river has not only been damaged, but cut off  as a result of the overloading of timber logs, coal and heavy vehicles, which were not supposed to use that route.

They stated that the rope has served for over thirty (30) years until now when it finally gave way, creating panic on travelers.

It was further learnt that the breakdown of the Mabanta Ferry, which is a major transport for Sanda Magbolonthor and Kamakwie Town, has created untold sufferingl upon the indegenes and travellers to those areas, coupled with the general increase in transportation fares, which currently stands at Two Hundred New Leones (NL 200) from Freetown to Sanda Magbolonthor Chiefdom and beyond, despite the decreased of fuel price. It was also disclosed that when the rugged road to that Chiefdom will be constructed, a vehicle will spend lesser than four hours, which is about 150 Miles from Freetown to Sanda Magbolonthor Chiefdom.

Since travellers that are frequently to and from the Chiefdom can’t afford to pay the huge charges involved to travel by road, they are using canoes as an option to cross the river, while some people are also making use of bikes (Okadas) to travel by road to the Chiefdom at multiple charges.

In that regard, the suffering masses of Sanda Magbolonthor Chiefdom within Karene District, are calling on the Government, NGOs and other line bodies to step in and render a helping hand to construct a bridge, so that the prevailing suffering among citizens in the Chiefdom can be mitigated or reduced, especially during the height of the rainy season.

According to the Chiefdom speaker, the breakdown of the ferry is a usual thing, especially during the season.

He lamented that the only solution to stop the suffering of travelers in that part of the country is to construct a standard bridge, and concluded by calling on President Bio’s government and international organizations to consider the suffering of Sanda magbolontor indegenes.

@D-Lion