News:
March 4, 2014
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho has summoned the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Amin Amidu Sulemani to appear before Parliament to brief the House on steps being taken to ease the frustration of motorists following the closure of the Adomi Bridge.
He has also tasked the committee on road and transport to visit the Adomi bridge site on Friday 14th March 2014 to access the situation and report back to the House.
Drivers and passengers continue to face frustration in their effort to move to and from the Eastern and the Volta regions after the Adomi Bridge was closed on Monday 10th March 2014.
The Speaker’s summons follows a statement made on the floor of Parliament by MP for Adaklu, Governs Kwame Agbodza and supported by other MPs on the need for the Ministry of Roads and Highways to as a matter of urgency to take steps to alleviate the plight of motorists as they try to cross the Volta River.
The MPs especially those whose constituency border the Volta River such as MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa blamed the current situation on the lack of adequate consultation and education by the Ghana Highway Authority.
The legislators also condemned the high fares of between GHC 10 & GHC 12 being charged vehicles crossing the river on pontoon, especially as Parliament had not approved any charges.
Another reason for the inconvenience encountered is the braking down of one of the two pontoons expected to convey vehicles and people across the Volta River.
The situation has created heavy vehicular traffic at both banks of the Volta River at Atimpoku and Akrade.
In a bid to reduce frustration among the people, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) and other transport unions have come up with two offers to facilitate travelling from Ho in the Volta Region to the Eastern and the Greater regions.
The first offer is for travellers to use the old route via a pontoon at Akrade, while the second offer is for drivers to use a new route from Ho through Adidome, Sogakope and the Tema Roundabout to Accra.
Lorry fares on the Adidome route had gone up by GH¢2, while the fare from Ho to Accra through Adidome was now GH¢16, up from GH¢14.
The bridge is to be closed for 24 months for a comprehensive rehabilitation.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh