The Minister of State for Economic Monitoring in the Office of the President, who doubles as the Oyam District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Santa Sandra Alum Ogwang, has restored hope among residents of Obangangeo Parish in Acaba Sub-County after donating eight culverts to improve road connectivity between Obangangeo and Amido parishes in Loro Sub-County.
The culverts are intended to address challenges caused by a swamp along the road, which has been hindering transportation and access to essential services, especially during the rainy season.
Speaking to our reporter, 85-year-old Christina Etap, a resident of Obangangeo B Village who participated in the community road rehabilitation works, said residents had been facing numerous challenges, including accidents and poor road connectivity. She expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that the community was happy to witness the development efforts of Hon. Alum Ogwang in Acaba Sub-County.
The Obangangeo B LC1 Chairperson, Godfrey Obua, said the road had remained in poor condition under previous leadership, but after his election, he prioritized mobilizing the community to rehabilitate it.
He said the Abudi swamp had been a major obstacle to development, adding that residents had experienced several challenges, including school dropouts during the rainy season due to difficulties in accessing schools.
Obua expressed optimism that the donation of culverts would improve access to education and other essential services, and called on the community to continue working together to maintain the road.
The Oyam District LC5 Councillor representing Acaba Sub-County, Cissy Enume, appreciated Hon. Alum Ogwang for the donation, saying that after her appointment as Minister, there were rumours that she would no longer perform as she had done before.
Enume dismissed the rumours, saying Alum Ogwang had instead doubled her efforts in serving the community. She called on the people of Acaba to give the Minister their full support and urged residents to protect and maintain the road for lasting benefits.
Speaking on behalf of Hon. Santa Sandra Alum Ogwang, Peter Odyek appreciated the leadership of Acaba Sub-County for maintaining communication with the Minister and commended the community for its cooperation in rehabilitating and maintaining the road.
Odyek called on other communities to emulate the people of Obangangeo, noting that local leaders should work closely with residents to address challenges affecting their communities.
He emphasized that good roads are essential for transporting goods to markets, accessing health facilities and reducing accidents, among other benefits.
