The Upper East Regional Minister, Ms Paulina Patience Abayage, has given the assurance that works on the Bongo-Balungu bridge and the Bongo-Namoo road in the Bongo District, would resume as soon as the rains stop.
The road, which is the only major route linking the district capital, Bongo, and neighbouring Burkina Faso, has deteriorated from neglect and prone to road crashes.
The bad nature of the eight-kilometre road, particularly the only bridge which links the Balungu community and Bongo, had collapsed and become a death trap during the rainy season.
The road also links several communities in the district and serves as the main route to the district hospital and for commuters engaging in economic activities.
The situation has compelled vehicle users travelling from Bolgatanga to Burkina Faso to use the Paga route instead of the Bongo road which is shorter.
The unmotorable road has led to decline in economic activities in the area and also affecting revenue generation drive of the assembly.
In July 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut sod for the construction of the bridge and other bridges within the Bongo District in order to bring relief to the people and aid economic growth.
The project was awarded to DAMIT Enterprise and was expected to be completed in 2019.
However, few months after the start of the project, works on the facility came to a standstill and the rains have further widen the river beneath the bridge, and usually compel people who are going to Bongo to either pass through Vea-Gowrie or Feo, especially whenever it rains.
But speaking to the chiefs and people in Bongo after inspecting the facility on Monday, the Regional Minister stated that she had placed the Bongo-Balungu bridge request before Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, the Minister of Roads and Highways as one of the roads in the region that needed urgent attention.
She explained that the breakdown of the bridge had adversely affected lives, especially access to healthcare, education and the revenue mobilisation of the assembly.
She assured that as soon as the rains stopped, the necessary work would be done for the contractor to complete the project and bring relief and development not only to the Bongo District but the entire nation.
Ms Abayage, who was accompanied by the District Chief Executive for Bongo, Mr Peter Ayamga Ayinbisa, also inspected the construction of 1,000 metric tonnes warehouse at Bongo-Bogrigo, completed Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound at Sinabisi and the completed 10-seater flush toilet, and redevelopment works of Bongo-Soe market.
FROM SAMUEL AKAPULE, BONGO
