Bailey bridge collapse killing driver's mate

Gomoa Brofo (C/R), March 1, GNA - A driver's mate was killed while four others including the diver sustained injuries when a bailey bridge collapsed sending a long vehicle belonging to the Adventist Relief Agency (ADRA) into the Ochi River at Gomoa Brofo in the Central Region. The mate, Sulley Mahama, was said to have jumped out of the truck as the bridge collapsed and got trapped under the vehicle in the River. Ms Joyce Aidoo, Acting District Chief Executive for Gomoa, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the scene of the accident said the four injured members of staff of ADRA were rushed to the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Government Hospital where they were treated and discharged.

The DCE said she had informed the Central Regional Feeder Roads Engineer, Mr John Obeng Aseidu about the poor state of the bridge, adding that, "barely one week I sent information to the Regional Feeder Roads Engineer in Cape Coast about the state of the bridge only for this disaster to occur. Ms Aidoo who was accompanied by Nana Okutwer Bekoe, Chief of Gomoa Adaa pointed out that the people in the area had been cut off from the rest of the country and said farm produce would be locked as a result of the disaster. She appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Transport and other organisations for assistance to replace the bridge.

ASP Asare Boafo, Apam District Police Commander said it took the Asafo companies of the town over six hours to retrieve the body of the mate, which had been trapped under the vehicle in the River. He said the body had been deposited at the mortuary of the Winneba hospital for autopsy. ADRA and some companies are engaged in digging boreholes to solve the perennial water problem in communities in the District.