Members of Parliament have expressed dissatisfaction with the inadequacy of measures to address the challenges of the closure of the Adomi Bridge at Atimpoku for rehabilitation by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).
The legislators said the insufficiency of the measures and the lack of consultation on the part of the GHA before shutting down the bridge had made commuting a disagreeable experience.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for Adaklu, Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, to draw attention to the inconveniences created by the bridge’s closure.
As a result the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, directed the Minister of Roads and Highways to appear before the House to brief the legislators on the steps being taken to address the challenges.
He also directed the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport to visit the new crossing site created by the GHA at Senchi, establish the facts of the matter and report to the House for appropriate action.
The lawmakers condemned management of the process that led to motorists spending close to 24 hours to cross the Volta River at Atimpoku and Akrade to due to the breaking down of one of two pontoons arranged by GHA to ferry people, vehicle and goods across the river.
Mr Agbodza said the situation at the crossing demonstrated lack of proper planning and consultation prior to the implementation of the project and this should not be tolerated because it was causing disruptions to economic activities.
He said the high fares charged by the ferry operators had also resulted in drivers increasing fares arbitrarily, questioning why the GHA did not rehabilitate the Ho-Adaklu-Adidome road as an alternative route.
Mr Joseph Amenowode, MP for Afadjato South, said the chaos at the crossing was not only affecting the Volta Region alone but also that the route is international in nature and that the problem should be fixed as soon as practicable.
David Tetteh Asumeng, MP for Shai Osudoku, said he was worried the problem could set off food shortages and rise in prices of foodstuff because the route was a major link between the north and south of Ghana and called for the speedy rehabilitation of the bridge and the fixing of the immediate problem at the crossing point at Senchi.
He suggested that a third bridge should be constructed on the Volta River to take the pressure off the Atimpoku and Sogakofe bridges.
Mr Joe Gidisu, MP for Central Tongu, also called for a swift rehabilitation of the bridge and the speedy resolution of the problem at the current ferry crossing point.
Papa Owusu Ankomah. MP for Sekondi, said once legislators from areas affected by the closure of the bridge had registered their displeasure, it clearly showed the lack of consultation on the matter.
“We must appreciate that we can do things in a way that will minimize unnecessary complaints even though what we are doing is well meaning and is in the right direction,” he said.