Parliament has summoned the Roads and Highway Minister, Kwasi Amoakoh Atta over the chaos that has characterized the closure of the Buipe, Yapei Bridges in the Northern region.
The closure of the bridge has created untold hardships in the movement of people and goods over the Black Volta.
The Speaker of Parliament, issued the directive for the Minister to appear before the House after Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrissu voiced his concerns on the development in the Chamber Tuesday.
“Mr Speaker, prevention they say is better than cure. One can understand that the Ministry of Roads and Highway have had to direct the closure of this two bridges which is a link between the North and South, from the Brong Ahafo through the Northern region… And Mr. Speaker the closure of the two bridges at Bupei and Yapei is affecting the movement of goods and passengers resulting in some untold hardships.
Mr. Speaker we’ll want to invite the Minister for Roads to further brief this House what contingency measures he put in place before the announcement of the closure and what is it that he’s doing to ameliorate the suffering of the many persons who want to travel from the north to the south taking advantage of other roads. I know that those who able able to use the ferry through Makango are able to cross, but Mr. Speaker, we want the Minister of roads and Highways to advise this House, representatives of the people, what plans and alternative measures he put in place before announcing the closure and what steps he’s taking together with the Regional Coordinating Councils and the District Assemblies to end it. It’s affecting businesses, It’s affecting transporters and Mr. Speaker we are in the Christmas season where persons need to move and move freely.”
The bridges which carry more than 10,000 cars a day and a major arteries for northern Ghana and a viable thoroughfare for traffic heading south to north, were closed to traffic in either direction for third maintenance works since this year.
The Buipe and Yapei bridges built over the White and Black Volta rivers is also an interstate highway linking the country to its neighboring states such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso where millions of cedis in trade of goods and services are exchanged daily.
It was closed on Tuesday, 21 October, 2017 by Roads and Highways Minister, Kwesi Amoako Atta for repairs at a cost of GH¢4m after it underwent similar purpose just in February and May at GH¢449,000 and GH¢420,000 respectively.
The minister who announced the immediate closure of the bridges said a sag and deep cracks have been created in the middle of the bridges which were very dangerous and posed serious threat to commuters. A month period has been set aside for the damage works and the Minister warned all motorist to stay off the over 238m long bridges.