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Adomi bridge project in danger

 

Two communities are engaged in a tango over the ownership of a site from where gravels are mined for the roadworks in and around the Senchi ferry landing site in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region.

The two, Old Akrade and Fodzoku, are disputing the ownership of the site, a situation which has the tendency to further delay the completion of the Senchi ferry landing site, and consequently the commencement of a major rehabilitation of the Adomi Bridge.

To forestall any delay of the project, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah, has pleaded with the chiefs of the two disputing communities to give unimpeded access to the gravel site needed to complete the roadworks and the Senchi ferry landing site.

Incidentally, the roadworks and the landing site would have to be completed before the Adomi Bridge is closed for a scheduled major rehabilitation works in February, next year.

Mr Adjei Mensah had visited the site to inspect the progress of the roadworks, the landing site, and also interact with the two chiefs.

Meeting with chiefs

Mr Adjei Mensah, accompanied by the Director of Bridges, Mr Owusu Sekyere Antwi, first met with the chief of Old Akrade, Nana Adu Adjei Bonse, and his elders. 

He solicited their support, stating that the ferry would deliver enormous economic benefit to the people when completed.

Nana Kojo Ansah, Dzaasehene of Old Akrade, gave an assurance that access would be given to the contractor to mine the gravel so that the work could be completed on time.

He asked that the government withdraw the case from court, but Mr Adjei Mensah indicated that the government was not in a position to do that and pleaded with them to come to a compromise in order that the case was settled amicably.

“The gravel will be mined until the court case is heard. Whoever wins will be paid the compensation,” he stated.

He told the chief and his elders that the project had timelines, and it was, therefore, important that those differences were resolved swiftly so that they did not affect it.

The chief of Fodzoku also expressed his support for the project when the Deputy Minister called on him.

The landing site

At the time of the visit, workers of HAG Consult were busy mixing concrete to construct one side of the landing site.

The other side had also been laced with pre-cast concrete, ready to be filled.

A representative of the company told the Daily Graphic that 45 more days were left for the work on the landing site to be completed.

Mr Antwi also stated that the two ferries being secured at a cost of 10 million euros were expected to arrive in the country this month.

Adomi Bridge

The importance of the Adomi Bridge to the transportation needs of those in that part of the country and even beyond cannot be over emphasised.

The 46-year-old bridge links parts of the Eastern Region, Juapong in the North Tongu District, Ho, Hohoe and the Volta North on the east of the Volta River to the Greater Accra Region and some parts of the Eastern Region on the western part of the river. 

Currently, Messrs Bilfinger MCE GmbH of Austria have been engaged to undertake the rehabilitation works within a 22-month period. 

The contractor has mobilised to site and is undertaking the construction of the site camp located on the west bank upstream of the bridge.

The government has sourced 12.9 million euros from the Bank of Austria to replace the entire edifice though the original design will be maintained.

The ferry site at Senchi was selected because that was the original point before the construction of the 862-feet Adomi Bridge in 1956, authorities say.

Writer’s email: [email protected]

 

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