By: Lina Paulitsch (Global Volunteer Projects) & Kwamina Bamfo-Agyei
After
two years promise of rehabilitating the Elmina Bridge by former Vice President,
now the President H.E. John Mahama, is about to go through the procurement
system to select a suitable contractor to execute the works.
In
an exclusive interview the Director of Bridges at the Ghana Highway Authority
Owusu Sakyere Antwi disclosed that after visiting the site and preparing the
estimates, the ministry of Finance has approved of the estimates and has
ordered the authority to go through the procurement system in awarding the
contract to a suitable contractor.
Mr.
Antwi was optimistic that before the end of January 2013 the selected
contractor will be at the site to commence the rehabilitation works on the
Elmina Bridge. He said a restricted tendering procurement method will be used
to select the contractor, since the repair of the bridge requires urgent
attention and a specialized nature.
The President interacting with the Chief of Elmina |
Exactly
on August 12th 2010, President John
Mahama, the then Vice President, then promised the Chiefs and people of Elmina
that the Ghana Highway Authority would be directed to advise the government in
terms of cost of rehabilitating the bridge, which was constructed in the early 90s.
Elmina
is mainly known for its numerous fishing boats, sandy beaches and, of course,
Elmina Castle: innocently beautiful, yet bearing horrible history, it thrones
over the busy town. Once being the center of slave trade, it is now considered
the main tourist attraction, visited by many people every day.
The
bridge that is leading to the Castle is therefore one of the most frequented
ones in the area. Nonetheless, the bridge, which links residents in the area to
surrounding communities, is deteriorating each day. The bridge has not seen
anything comparable to repair work in many years. Rust is stretching all over
the railings and as you are crossing the bridge, you can feel each of your
steps making it shake violently. But the actual danger comes from big holes
that disfigure the bridge's road: walking mindlessly, at night for example, one
might easily step into them and get severely injured. Currently, both the foot
path and access road for vehicles on the bridge are completely rusted, forcing
residents to close the foot path to prevent any unforeseen occurrences. The
residents are now compelled to use the vehicular path which poses a threat to
life since anyone could be knocked down by a car especially during the night.
The
fishermen that sit in the shade of the bridge underneath it are well aware of
the risk they are taking. But as the bridge has been in this state for many
years, without the government investing anything, they are forced to do so and
find some rest in the cool shadows
The
Elmina Bridge, also known as the Benya Bridge, in the Central Region has become
a deathtrap and residents are now scared to use it.The
rusted bridge, which was built in the 1990s to ensure the free flow of tourists
and people from the town to the first Portuguese Castle built in the country,
is fast losing its essence.
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