Municipal Chief Executive for Ahanta West Municipal Assembly, John Agyare, has expressed commitment to ensure the construction of the collapsed Akwidaa bridge in the municipality.

According to him, on knowing about the collapse of the bridge yesterday, he quickly dispatched a works engineer and some of his staff to assess the damage of the bridge. He explained that in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, he expects works on the bridge to be completed soon.

“As I speak to you now, we are preparing to go to another area … I was told that the community through the forestry department has managed to get some boards [and] they need poles so that they can construct it. I have contacted one or two people and I want to assure my people that by tomorrow, they will see something so that at least the place can be made [motorable] for them to go by their normal duties. We are finding ways and means to at least put this bridge into its proper place…”
John Agyare

Commenting on the Akwidaa bridge, Mr Agyare indicated that hitherto, residents commuted to neighbouring communities and conducted their business via the use of canoes. He however noted that the bridge was constructed some years ago linking Old and New Akwidaa.

“… So, it has been there for many years until yesterday when we heard of the break of this bridge which in fact, was an unfortunate situation…”
John Agyare

Akwidaa Bridge repair stalled

The MCE highlighted that efforts to get the bridge renovated over the years have been impeded by several factors, including delay from the designated contractor. He however noted that he is in talks with CODA to find the best way forward.

“It’s under CODA project and last two years, the bridge was awarded to a contractor and the contractor came and we were all with him on site and he brought materials. So, we were thinking that the bridge could have been constructed so that at least it will ease the situation there… Later on, he left and when you call him you don’t get him until I met CODA myself and what I was told was that, they want to engage him for the second time and when they see that they cannot [execute it], they just terminate the contract and they will give it to a new contractor to come and take over.”
John Agyare

On his part, the assemblyman for Akwidaa, Emmanuel Bonney, expressed that the bridge has been in a bad state since last year. He explained that efforts to get the municipal assembly to address the problem has proven futile, even after writing officially to complain.

“… After finding out that they were delaying because their trust was in the contractor that they had given the contract to, we rushed to the forestry commission, seeking for their approval to enter into the forest and get deadwood so we can make the bridge.”
Emmanuel Bonney