The bridge over the twin Sirigu-Kadare rivers in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region is still unfixed almost three months after the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, assured residents of the area of a temporal solution in the of weeks.
Mr. Yakubu visited the broken Sirigu and Navio bridges on February 14, 2023, to ascertain the level of damage and explore possible solutions. He was accompanied by directors of both the Highways Authority and the Feeder Roads in the region.
While they disclosed that they would have to explore a permanent solution to the Navio bridge, a temporal measure was to be adopted in the case of the Sirigu bridge to open up the road for usage while a permanent solution will be looked at later.
The minister explained that fixing the bridges remained paramount, as it was tied to the country’s security and response to infiltration by armed bandits.
Almost three months after the minister’s visit and the decision to explore a permanent solution was arrived at, nothing positive has since been done to alleviate the plight of residents who meander their way through the river.
A visit by Dreamz News to the area on April 30, 2023, revealed that not even the heavy logs of wood that impede the flow of water have been removed from under the bridge after assurance of help to get them off the river.
The middle portion of the bridge that caved in making the road unsafe for use, is further deteriorating and could make it impossible for even a motorcycle to go through if nothing significant is done.
Paramount Chief of the Sirigu Traditional Area, Naba Atogumdeya Roland Akwara III, in an interview with Dreamz News stated that nothing has become of the minister’s visit and follow-up calls to him and a visit to the road’s ministry.
He said the community members can no longer pass through the river due to recent rains which are negatively affecting the residents of Mirigu, Kandiga, Sirigu, Zorkor, Bongo among others.
“I followed up with a letter after his visit to find out what is going on because the situation is unbearable and as we speak, nothing has happened. I even went to the Minister of Roads and Highways, Amoako Atta. He gave me his word that a team will come and look at but he has also failed to send the people as he said and these are things that you become frustrated with, as a leader,” he said in a rather heavily disturbed tone.
He continued stating “We know that there is no money for the whole bridge but a temporal measure will help and if they bring the metals, I can mobilize the community members and we will help fix the broken part and be using it,” he stated.
