Agona West NPP To Demonstrate Over Delay In Rebuilding Swedru Bridge

Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Agona West Constituency have asked the government and the contractor undertaking the River Akora drainage project to commence and complete work on the reconstruction of the damaged Bailey bridge across River Akora.

According to the party, failure on the part of both the government and the contractor to begin actual reconstruction of the bridge will result in a massive demonstration by members of the party.

The demonstration is to register their displeasure against the slow pace of work towards the reconstruction of the bridge.

The move, according to the party, is not politically motivated, since it is intended to ensure that the bridge is reconstructed as early as possible to bring business activities in Swedru back to normalcy.

Addressing a press conference last Monday at Agona Swedru, the 2nd Vice-Chairman of the party, Mr Jibril Tanko Toye, disclosed that the damaged bridge had brought untold hardships on motorists and drivers in the town, adding that the actual reconstruction of the bridge must begin immediately to help reduce the suffering of the people.

He noted that the damaged bridge had affected businesses operating in Swedru, as well travellers who passed through the town to their various destinations.

According to the party, the traffic being experienced currently in the town is unbearable as it has brought business and economic activities to a standstill.

He explained that the destruction of the bridge had greatly affected health, sanitation and the delivery of other social services in the district capital.

“School pupils who are transported to school by buses have to spend long hours in traffic before getting to school, which is affecting instructional hours,’’ he added

He stated that since the destruction of the bridge there had not been conscious efforts towards the speedy rebuilding of the bridge by the government and the contractor who destroyed it.

Mr Toye alleged that the contractor had no blasting certificate from the Minerals Commission but went ahead to blast the rocks which led to the destruction of the bridge.

He, therefore, called on the government to investigate the contractor and, if found culpable, he should be made to face sanctions.

He noted that the party had resolved that if by May 31, 2014 no efforts had been made towards the rebuilding of the bridge, it would mobilise funds to rebuild the bridge to ease the traffic in town.