News:
July 28, 2011
The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Yaw Owusu Boateng has commended the Minister of Road and Highways, Joe Gidisu for the engineering works he caused to be done on the Birim Bridge in the Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern Region.
According to him, the repair works done on the bridge saved it from total collapse after last week’s heavy rains that caused flooding and displaced lots of people in Akim Oda and its environs.
The Birim Bridge prior to the recent maintenance work was in a poor state and brought a lot of inconvenience to residence of the Birim Central Municipality, and other Cocoa farmers as the bridge links cocoa producing areas of the Ashanti and Eastern Regions.
Residents of Akim Oda and Nkwanta claim since its construction about 50 years ago, the bridge had seen no major rehabilitation works which resulted in its deteriorating state.
Repair works on the GH¢ 210,000 which was being conducted by the Ghana Highway Authority and begun in January was expected to be completed by the beginning of April 2011 but that obviously has not been achieved.
Speaking to ghanamps.gov.gh, the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Yaw Owusu Boateng stated that the repairs on the bridge was a timely intervention as the bridge in its earlier state could have easily caved in and worsened the already devastating floods.
He said continues repair works on the Birim Bridge have been suspended to enable the Ghana Highway Authority carryout maintenance work on the bridge linking Spinters road to Ashiaman which is widely used by several motorists.
“Hon. Joe Gidisu has assured me that right after the maintenance work has been done on the Ashiaman Bridge, officials will turn their attention on the Birim Bridge and complete the necessary repair works to put the bridge back in shape’’ Hon. Owusu Boateng said.
Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh