By Manyuon Mayen Manyuon, Sawa Sawa Network
Juba, (January 24, 2023) – On January 21, President Salva Kiir Mayardit inaugurated the second phase of the construction of Juba-Bor-Malakal highway after the construction reached Bor town, Jonglei State.
The latest phase will see the road construction commence from Bor town to Ayod and then to Malakal and Renk in Upper Nile State later.
This project is being implemented by the African Resource Corporation (ARC) – a local construction company being funded by the government of South Sudan.
However, the completion of the first phase from Juba to Bor gathered jubilations and happiness among the local people as they easily travel from Juba to Bor and vice versa within the shortest period.
But what remains unclear is the financial accountability for the cost of the constructed road, materials and the entire work-related expenditure.
During the groundbreaking ceremony at Mareng village of Anyidi payam , neither the government nor ARC gave a financial statement on the cost of the well-decorated road.
But in other countries like Kenya, a four-lane 1-kilometer of a tarmac road cost 26.12 million Kenya Shillings, an equivalent of $210,221.
However, for South Sudan, the public is yet to know the financial accountability and transparency aspect of the road budget.
A source who wants to be identified as Johnson said US-blacklisted ARC could have presented its financial expenses so that the public would trust it more.
“This is taxpayers’ money. So, however much we appreciate the road construction, financial statements could have been disclosed for the public to be aware about how much is spent and will be spent,” he narrated in an interview with Sawa Sawa Network on Monday in Juba.
“Otherwise, many people are inquisitive about the financial accountability element. But it should have been touched such that other claims against the ARC are disapproved and dislodged.”
In December 2021, the United States Department of Treasury sanctioned ARC and another South Sudanese company on the alleged corruption-related deals.
Augustino Deng, a Juba-based civil society activist who leads South Sudan Youth Peace and Development Organization (SSYPADO), revealed that financial accountability and transparency were essential to justify the authenticity of the process.
“For instance, people want to know about the bidding, social contracts with the community and the sub-contracts which were given out to the companies and the individuals. These are questions,” he said.
Deng blamed the public and the civil society groups for being silent on ARC issues.
“Otherwise, the process should be questioned for the welfare of the people and the locals. We need to also know the status of the local communities whose livelihoods have been affected by the road in one way or another,” he continued.
According to the local reports, the road network has dismantled farm lands, grazing land as well as private homes.
Way forward
The activist called on the ARC management to embark on accountability and transparency, arguing that such actions were necessary to boost credibility.
“Yes, it is a big company. People are seeing that they are not selfish but we need to really know the contracts they are given; how much is awarded, are people being actively engaged or not as well as the kickback process,” Deng added.
Attempts to reach the ARC headquarters in Juba were not immediately successful as so many requests for interview were turned down.
South Sudanese online have also expressed doubts if the company would finish the regional highway on time as required, saying that too much time was spent on Juba-Bor Road construction.
The 197-kilometer road took about three years to reach the town of Bor, raising speculations that the entire project might take roughly 12 years or more if the company continues at the same place.
