Elmina Benya Lagoon Bridge awarded on contract

The government has awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the bridge on the Benya Lagoon at Elmina and work will soon start.

The bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic for some months now and this had affected tourism in the ancient town that hosts two of the World’s Moment sites being the Elmina Castle and the Fort Saint Jago as well as the Dutch Cemetery.

The bridge links the Castle and the Elmina Fish Market and other tourist attractions and hospitality industries in the area and other communities.

An official statement said the contractors had visited the site with the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Isaac Kweku Sam and Mr Sam pleaded with all the hawkers to move to the market to make way for the project.

The statement lauded President John Dramani Mahama for a number of developmental projects underway in the area and these include the construction of a Fish Processing Plant at Elmina and revamping of the Komenda Sugar Factory.

The President, at a sod cutting ceremony for the construction of the Fish Processing Plant, assured the Municipality of a fishing harbour and promised that the steel bridge on the Benya Lagoon would be awarded on contract.

The statement said the Paramount chief of Komenda has released land to SELF-TECH PVC, an Indian firm that is to rejuvenate the factory and the President is expected to visit the place soon to break the ground for work to start.