Deputy Minority Leader of the NDC Caucus, Emmanuel Amarh-Kofi Buah has called out to the government to give its attention to the weak Ankobra Bridge in the Western Region which is at the heart of trade and commerce between Ghana and La Côte d’Ivoire
He had filed an urgent question which sought to ask the Minister responsible for Roads and Highways what urgent steps are being taken by the Ministry to repair the visibly weak Ankobra Bridge.
Providing answers on the floor of parliament on Friday, December 15, 2023, the deputy minister for roads and highways Jahilah Pampiin Stephen explained that a 65 million Euro loan facility agreement in August 2020, was approved by Parliament for the construction and rehabilitation of three bridges; namely Sweet river, Ankobra River and black Volta River at Iture Ankobra and Dikpe respectively.
The construction of a new bridge over river Ankobra was therefore part of that agreement, unfortunately government has not been able to reach financial closure on the project.
“Currently, the bridge division of Ghana Highway Authority will continuously monitor the bridge and undertake remedial measures as and when necessary” he assured
Not satisfied with the answer, the Ellembele legislator, Mr. Buah in a follow-up question lamented that heavy trucks from Côte d’Ivoire using the bridge are not being controlled in terms of load weights among other things.
“There is an urgent risk that the bridge will collapse and if that happens, it will be a disaster for business and for almost everybody in that area, can the minister explain what steps will be taken to urgently address the weak bridge not loans to fix a new bridge,” he asked
Responding again, Mr. Jahilah Pampiin Stephen reiterated that their road engineers particularly the bridge maintenance unity have an eye on the road, and should they dictate that the bridge structure integrity is compromised, the right decision will be taken for the bridge to be closed.
The deputy minority leader, further in an interview outside the chamber stressed the importance of the bridge that links trade and commences between Ghana and La Côte d’Ivoire which therefore requires urgent attention.
“the Ankobra bridge is visibly weak, but it’s a very important bridge that links Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire when it comes to trade and commerce in that corridor of the western part of Ghana. Unfortunately, it’s very weak because it is unregulated due to weight hence there is a need for us to check that, but the answer is that they are aware and working on it and even tried to get a loan yet is not going through” he expressed disappointment
That notwithstanding the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the government, he insisted that must know the urgency of the situation to do the needful.
By: Mary Quartey
