Bridge on Pra River abandoned; contractor packs out

Commuters and drivers who travel from Dunkwa in the Central Region to Accra spend hours on the road, a situation which could have been avoided if a bridge under construction over the Pra River has been completed.

The bridge when completed would link River Pra to River Offin and Dunkwa.

The bridge would also link Owirenkyiman and Hwediem while those commuters who use Central Region to Kumasi and other parts of Ashanti Region would have a short cut.

But it has been abandoned for the past eight months, leaving commuters to go through a number of smaller towns before getting to their destinations.

Funded jointly by the Ghana and Belgium governments, the project commenced in January 2019. But nearly eight months down the lane, the contractor has parked all his equipment and left the site.

Information gathered indicates that funds for the project are not forthcoming, and that compelled the contractor to suspend the project.

A visit to the site revealed that some of the equipment that were left at the site have begun rusting.

The President of the Owirenkyi Traditional Council, Ehunabobrem Prah Agyensaim VI, who is also the Chief of Assin Kushea, in an interview on Onua FM admitted that the bridge when completed, would boost the economic situation of the town and other surrounding communities.

Economic gains

Ehunabobrem Prah Agyensaim VI said the bridge when completed would boost the economic fortunes of Assin Kushea and the entire Assin North District.

“The bridge will link River Pra to River Offin and therefore Dunkwa. If anybody is going to Accra from Dunkwa, the person will spend three hours from Dunkwa through Obuasi, through Obuasi Junction, Asokwa and pass through Asempanaye, Kushea Junction that takes three hours.

“If we are able to finish the bridge, it will take 40 minutes. That is [a] quantum of savings to the country. Two hours of burning fuel is huge. Two hours of time-saving is huge. That is why I am pressing that this is a very important infrastructure. You know our fuel situation.”

Ehunabobrem Prah Agyensaim VI added that “the mining companies are all there. They will be saving two hours of fuel burning, but more importantly, time”.

“When we finish the bridge, all the traffic from Denkyira and Wassa, passing through Kushea will create jobs. At least, every passenger will spend GH?20,” he promised.

He said during the creation of the new districts, he already had in mind plans for Kushea and that plan would be realized when the bridge is completed.

Stalled in project

When asked whether he had any information as to why the project has been abandoned, Ehunabobrem Prah Agyensaim VI said he was aware the government was mobilizing funds to continue the project.

“The government is reorganizing the financial situation of the country as a whole so I am sure that is the reason why the project has been stalled but I hope work will commence soon,” he expressed optimism.

On the sidelines, the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Abena Durowaa Mensah, also promised that the government would soon mobilize funds to complete the project.

“The bridge over the Pra River started so well. We were happy when the government came to our aid because it had been over 25 years that this thing had been taken to government to come and help construct a bridge over it and at last, the NPP government heard our prayer and contractors came to do the work”.

The MP said, “but unfortunately, for some time now, they have left the site but even that I know for sure that the government is working to get the contractors back on-site to complete the bridge for us”.

She urged the people not to lose hope in the government since it is bent on constructing the bridge for them.

“I want to tell Owirenkyiman, Hwidiem and all surrounding communities that all hope is not lost. We shouldn’t lose hope. Government is gathering funds to come and complete it for us”.