The government has acted swiftly to prevent huge tonnes of cocoa from getting locked up in key parts of the Juaboso and Bia districts of the Western Region, following the damage of a vital metal bridge and a concrete culvert on the Benchema Junction-Osei Kojokrom (border town) road. 

The international road which links Ghana and La Cote d’Ivoire and connects about 50 communities, has been rendered virtually unmotorable by the recent rains which washed away a portion of the culvert and made the road soggy. 

The problem was compounded when extensive damage was caused to the metal bridge last Tuesday, when a low loader ferrying a grader across the bridge over River Benchema rammed into one of the arms. 

The bridge, which has virtually caved in, is being used by only small vehicles. The affected communities include Asempaneye, Bremang, Dominibo, Esuantaa, Adwoafua, Kwame Tawiahkrom, Debiso, Akaatiso, Adabokrom, Kunkunso, Oseikrom and Nyametwa. 

To save the situation, the Western Regional Coordinating Council has contracted a road construction firm, MIDWEST Contract Works Limited, to widen and put into good shape the Asempaneye-Krokosua road as an alternative route for use by mainly articulated and other heavy-duty vehicles to facilitate the evacuation of cocoa, timber and foodstuff. 

The 27.1 kilometre laterite road links the Bencheman Junction – Juabeso-Bonsu Nkwanta road. 

Sources close to the Regional Coordinating Council to reporters during an inspection tour of the damaged portions of the international route at the weekend that rehabilitation work on the road diversion would be completed this week. 

The sources said the rehabilitation work on the Asempaneye – Krokosua road was a temporary measure and indicated that the Ghana Highway Authority was working around the clock to repair the damaged metal bridge, culvert and other portions of the international route. 

The Managing Director of MIDWEST Contract Works, Mr Godfred Kwaku Andoh, said continuous rainfall in the area was hindering the rehabilitation work but assured”,“we are doing everything possible to complete it.

The Ghanaian Times

AA

More on Juaboso click here