Residents take advantage of Dome crossing bridge construction to defy lockdown directive

In the last quarter of 2019, GhanaWeb reported news of looming danger at Dome crossing posed by a heavily overused bridge in the area. The neighbourhood had for a long period of time become flood-prone as a result of the damaged bridge and gutter.

The plea of residents at the time got result as the authorities began renovations on the bridge shortly after GhanaWeb’s report.

Work was progressing steadily on the bridge and at our last visit to the area, earlier this year, the Ga East Municipal NADMO Director, Seth Osei Kissi assured that the bridge would be completed by the end of March.

The imposition of the lockdown in some parts of Accra which included the Ga East municipality has not affected the construction of the bridge as people were busy at work when GhanaWeb paid another visit to the place on lockdown day 19 to check on the progress made so far.

Residents were pleased with the work and believe the construction will be completed very soon to aid free and smooth movement on the stretch.

GhanaWeb, however, noticed that the area was filled with life, like any normal day as residents were seen loitering and doing their usual activities as though there was nothing to worry about.

When asked by the news team why they had flouted the president’s directives, some business operators and residents said they had taken advantage of the ongoing works on the bridge to the ongoing reconstruction of the bridge as an excuse while others resorted to, hunger, idleness and joblessness as reasons.

They further expressed their dissatisfaction with the meals shared to vulnerable persons in the community, hence their decision to hassle to feed themselves.

Commercial vehicle drivers, however, accused the police of making their lives miserable even though government said they could operate during the lockdown.



“I’m here to hustle to get something to eat but the police is making work difficult for us. Even though government said we can operate, the police officers are always making us turn back when were are halfway into a trip. Sometimes they let us park at 9 am in the morning and release at 5 pm in the evening and if you’re not fortunate you have to pay GH¢20 first,” a taxi driver said.

“…We’re out here to make money so we can feed our families. You can’t tell us to stay home and not feed us. They came to share food and each person was given a ball of kenkey and one sardine which is not even up to GH¢5. Some people have children and will starve if they have to stay home. Three days ago, they came to give us small packs of waakye,” another person added.

Another resident noted that some leaders of the NPP whom the Member of Parliament for the area had put in charge for the distribution of food items to the vulnerable are only giving to people they know leaving those who really need help to fend for themselves.

“...I’m here to hustle to get something to eat but the police is making work difficult for us. Even though government said we can operate, the police officers are always making us turn back when were are halfway into a trip. Sometimes they let us park at 9 am in the morning and release at 5 pm in the evening and if you’re not fortunate you have to pay GH¢20 first,” he said.

Until government comes to their aid to clarify what they described as unfair treatment, these residents will continue to go about their normal duties as citizens in the country.

Meanwhile, an excavator operator at the site of the reconstruction told the news team off-record that the bridge may be opened to vehicular traffic in the coming weeks.