FROM KPANDAI TO SALAGA- MY ORDEAL

As I sat behind the motor, I kept wondering if I was going to catch the only bus that left for Salaga that morning. It was almost 6am when I checked the time, I was told the bus usually takes off at 6, I had barely 5 minutes to make it there. I told Frank, the guy who was riding the motor to speed up. That was a risky thing to do considering the nature of the road but I had no choice than to do it. I was broke and desperately in need of money and other supplies to survive. The road was sandy and dry in some parts and rocky with deep trenches and holes in other parts.

As the motor kept speeding up, I thought of other alternatives I could have taken but there was none. The only public transport system ( Metro Mass Transit) that ply that road only came once in the evening from Accra, through my small town to Kpandai and reversed the route the following morning. Apart from this, the only other option was to walk that 16 kilometer journey, an option that was way out of the question. As we neared Kpandai, I checked the time again and it was 30 minutes after 6, I prayed silently to God to let me catch the bus. I desperately needed to get to the bank and the nearest one was at Salaga. I heaved a huge sigh of relief when we got to the station and I saw the Salaga bus was still there. I was told that because it had rained the previous day, they were not sure whether the road was in good condition or not and it was this uncertainty that had delayed it from moving. I stood there staring sheepishly at them whilst they continued the deliberations. These guys had no idea what I was going through, that I was going to be a stranded fellow in a place I knew no one except a few people who were in no position to help me. Some few minutes later, the driver and some other station personnel came around and ordered us to take our seats. We were finally cleared to move.

We started moving towards the ride to take our seats. I was aiming for the front seat but I wasn’t quick enough as it was occupied by some two gentlemen. I took a seat on the 3^rd row close to the window and tried to fit myself inside the ride. The seats were arranged very close to each other and there was very little room to adjust my slightly long legs into a comfortable position. The other passenger who sat beside me had so many luggages on him and that made matters worse as he squeezed me tightly to the corner. My legs were stiff and could not stand the pressure anymore so I decided to readjust myself and there I felt it, it occurred so quickly I had no time to react. The pain was excruciating and unbearable. An old, rusted nail behind the seat in front of me was the cause. It ripped through my trousers and sliced across my knee. Blood started gushing out soiling my trousers and my shoes. The other passengers gave way as I alighted and drifted slowly towards a pharmacy shop to get some medication for myself. I got some iodine, ethylated spirit, cotton wool and a bandage. As I started limping back after applying the first aid, I heard the horn of a vehicle and realized that the vehicle had crossed the road and was waiting for me. I bundled myself into the ride and folded my knees up to my chest and suspended myself in that position for the rest of the journey.

When the vehicle got to the outskirts of the town, I saw a group of passengers numbering about 15 standing beside the road. The vehicle stopped and I saw them gather their luggage and approaching the ride. I turned around and looked inside the already packed to capacity bus which we were even struggling to get some comfort and started wondering where the other passengers were going to sit. Just then, I saw them( including women) climbing the vehicle to sit on the top of it. We felt the squeaking sound from the roof of the vehicle as it struggled to contain the pressure being mounted on it. I hoped and prayed it didn’t collapse in on us. I was later told that the top of the vehicle is reserved for the “VIP” members and you had to make a reservation before you could get a seat there.

The nature of the road could best be described as a death trap. Most parts of the road were eroded creating deep gullies and trenches. After about an hour into the rough and bumpy journey, we encountered our first test of the day. We came across  a small stream that had obviously overflowed onto the road. The “honourable” passengers at the top had to get down before the vehicle could cross for them to rejoin us. That was the beginning of more serious troubles ahead. After about 15 minutes, we encountered another flood which was much deeper and wider than the previous one. And this time, it wasn’t only those at the top who had to get down but all of us to make it easy for the vehicle to cross this pool of water. And as the situation demanded, we had to walk across this flood and meet the bus at the other end. I watched as the other passengers started taking off their footwear. I looked across the water and started doing the same. I took off my shoes, removed my socks as well and folded my trousers up beyond my knees. With my bandaged knee, my shoes in my hand and my socks stuffed in my pocket, I slowly limped off into the water and started the journey across. About half way through, my right foot hit a rock beneath the water, I lost my balance in the process and fell into the water which was about knee deep. My trousers, shoes and most part of my shirt got wet in the process. I gathered myself up and managed to cross the flood to join the other passengers to continue the journey. I thought that was going to be the end of our ordeal but I was mistaken. We came across another much bigger flood than the previous ones.

Again, we got down allowing the vehicle to cross but unfortunately it couldn’t make it  this time. It got stuck in the middle; one of the tyres got stuck in a trench underneath the water. I looked on as they struggled for about half an hour before they could get it out and ease itself out of the water. I dragged myself, this time very carefully across the water, avoiding the route where the vehicle got stuck until I got to the other side safely to join the other passengers and the vehicle.

When we finally arrived at Salaga, I checked the time and it was 5 minutes to 2 pm. I was hungry, thirsty and exhausted. With my bare feet, my dripping wet clothes, my shoes in hand and my bag hanging on my shoulders, I dragged myself to the only bank in the town paying no attention to the curious eyes that kept staring at me. I withdrew enough money, got myself some lunch and checked into a guest house. As I lay there thinking about the day’s adventure, I shook my head and dreaded the return journey to Kpandai.

Written by:

Samuel Nyarko Addo

ghshowbiztv@gmail.com