Betty Krosbi Mensah Laments Govt’s Laxity On Afram River Bridge Project, 2 Yrs After Parliament Approved €350m

The Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North constituency in the Eastern region, Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah has expressed grave concern about government’s lack of commitment for the construction of a bridge over the Afram River two years after parliament approved €350 million facility.

Parliament in February 2022, approved a total of Three Hundred and Fifty Million Euros (€350, 000,000) commercial contract agreements for financing the construction of two major roads and a bridge over the Afram River to boost agricultural productivity in the Afram Plains area.

The first agreement was between the Government and Contracta Construction UK Limited for €150 million to construct the Bunso-Adawso road and specified approach roads to the Adawso Bridge project.

The 104-kilometre project comprises the Takorowatwen-Ekyi Amanfrom road (22 km), the Adawso-Kwahu Tafo Road (20 km), the Kwahu Tafo-Miaso road (29 km), the Miaso-Begoro road (26 km) and the Begoro-Obuoho road (7km).

The second agreement was between the Government and BNIP-Janson-Adowso Consortium of the Netherlands for €200 million to construct a bridge over the Afram River at Adawso-Ekyi Amanfrom.

Details of the cost component of €200 million bridge project include €10 million for engineering design, €6.5 million for mobilization, and €103 million for the construction of substructure, €72 million for supply and installation of composite superstructure, €3.5 million for bridge furniture and €5 million  for toll and weight stations.

A year after the approval, it emerged that government was diverting the facility to portions of the Accra- Kumasi road projects.

Hon Betty Krosbi Mensah was not happy about government’s intention of allegedly re-allocating that huge amount of money from its intended project.

The ministry of Roads and Highways quickly denied the claim following the displeasure of the Afram Plains North lawmaker against the alleged diversification.

A statement issued by the ministry explained that, government had anticipated that two components of the project will be executed concurrently within 30 months.

It stated that financing for the project has not been concluded due to the ongoing debt restructuring.

Two years after the parliamentary approval, the Afram Plains North lawmaker, Betty Krosbi Mensah through a parliamentary question sought to know the status of the facioity for the bridge project.

Responding to the question on the floor of Parliament, deputy minister for Roads and Highways, Stephen Jalulah said the Government has not been able to reach financial closure on the project.

By: Christian Kpesese