The Kassena-Nankana West District Chief Executive [DCE], Gerard Ataogye has given the strongest indication that a permanent fix would be found in due course for the collapsed steel bridge over the Gugura River in the Navio enclave of the district.
It would be recalled that the said bridge caved in on March 24, 2022 as a heavy haulage truck attempted to drive through.
The collapsed bridge has since brought untold hardships on citizens in the area relating to mobility challenges, carting of goods in and out of the area, and also, cutting off other connecting communities as well as public servants and businessmen and women who ply their trade along that route. This same route also connects up with parts of neighbouring Burkina Faso.
But in an interview with the District ISD office on Tuesday regarding the Assembly’s relocation to the new office block in Paga-Zenga, off the Paga-Navio road, the District Chief Executive [DCE] used the opportunity to state that, himself and the Upper East Regional minister have been on the move to procure a solution to the bridge.
“Just a fortnight ago I led a team from the national and then they picked the measurements and other quantities at the site”.
Describing the bridge as “a critical one for the district and that it had since slowed down the local economy of the district”, Mr. Ataogye said he had no doubts at all that it will be fixed very soon.
Recently, the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu expressed worry that the collapsed Navio steel bridge in the Kassena- Nankana West District, if not fixed, could be used as an entry point for Jihadists and some terrorist groups.
The minister was on a visit to the area with the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Road and Highways to assess the level of damage.
“… this is a clear cut for these Jihadists and others who will want to disturb us in the region or the country to use and come in. If this bridge is not fixed, not only will the community members be cut-off but we all are being exposed to serious risk of any attack from these terrorist groups. Sadly, I’m standing here with my directors and the engineers, yet we cannot fix this bridge.”
It would be recalled that when the Assemblyman for the Navio Electoral Area, Roland Apugibo, spoke on the Day Break Upper East Show today, February 6, 2023, he said there have been no positive responses from the Assembly.
“Over the past 11 months, nothing concrete has happened. To be frank with you, we made so many appeals, wrote so many letters, and nothing concrete, I can say, has been done,” he said.
Mr. Apugibo explained that even before the collapse of the bridge, he had reached out to the assembly to help correct the defects in the bridge. After the entire collapse of the bridge, he was informed that the scope of work fell beyond the capacity of the Assembly. As such, details of what needed to be done were sent to the Roads Ministry.
The situation poses grave danger to residents who ply the route, according to the assemblyman.
Source: Peter Atogewe Wedam, District Information Officer
