Residents of the Old Buipe electoral area in the Savannah Region have threatened to block local voters from participating in the upcoming December elections if the government does not address their development concerns.

They are also planning a series of protests to demand action from the authorities.

The community’s grievances stem from years of government neglect, which they say has led to severe issues including inadequate healthcare, poor road infrastructure, and unreliable network connectivity.

The Old Buipe area, including towns like Old Buipe, Lito, Gbongbonto, Winamda, Boachipe, and Braimape, is facing significant developmental challenges.

The main access road to these communities is in a terrible state, further deteriorated by recent rainfall.

The road is plagued with eroded potholes and becomes impassable with muddy waters during the rainy season. A stream that crosses this road adds to the danger, as an unfinished bridge project has left residents at risk.

Channel One TV’s visit to the Old Buipe D/A Primary School revealed that students were left unsupervised due to frequent teacher absences.

Residents explained that the poor road conditions deter teachers from staying in the area, disrupting the children's education.

Trader Malia Zakaria expressed her frustration with the difficulty of reaching Buipe’s market due to the road’s poor condition, which sometimes causes falls from her tricycle. She also highlighted how the lack of proper roads hampers access to healthcare when children fall ill.

Resident Yahaya Muntaka pointed out network problems that make it hard for women in labor to reach healthcare services, located about nine miles away. He warned that without prompt government intervention, the community would boycott the December 7 elections.

Community representative Mahama Tanko announced a two-week deadline for the government to address their demands or face large-scale protests, including a potential election boycott.

In a response, MP John Abdulai Jinapor assured that improvements to the road are forthcoming, with contractors scheduled to begin work soon.