The ministers of the Savannah and Upper West regions have jointly visited the bridge that was washed away on the Sawla – Kumasi highway at Doli: a community walking distance away from Boli in the Savannah Region.
The collapsed of the about 25m stretch bridge follows nearly 11hrs. Of torrential rain. By their assessment and according to them in an interview, the damage caused was far more than anticipated and so could not be fixed immediately. In their joint opinion, a diversion would be explored when the water retreats to make room for pedestrian and small vehicular passage. Until then, they will ensure effective security surveillance to regulate the activities of the few canoes put on the water to help people and goods cross the lagoon safely
Additionally, the two regional ministers also admitted the socio-economic Frustrations which come with the collapse of this all important bridge cutting off traffic follow along the Western link between the North and the south. Indeed, it was obvious at a glance at both edges and ends of the collapsed bridge, frustrated faces of drivers, business men and women and ordinary passengers at the mercy of the collapsed bridge.
As it stands now, Kumasi-Accra bound traffic from Wa and beyond will now route from Sawla through Damongo to meet the Tamale -Kumasi-Accra highway at JUNCTION: a community in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region. This is a relatively longer journey and it’s likely to impose much more financial burden on travellers and the business community and by extension, the consumer community in the affected corridor.
Last but, not least, the two ministers promised an increased security patrol along the new route to stamp out any possible criminal operations as a result of the envisaged concentration of business transactions. Attached are some pictures of the incident:
