The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Atta, who ordered the bridges’ temporary closure for almost one month,  opened the route to motorists on Friday December 22, 2017 after a thorough inspection. 

Without stating a definite measurement, the Minister said only lightweight vehicles will be allowed to cross the bridges.

“Only vehicles not exceeding the allowable load limit will be allowed to use the bridges. Vehicles approaching the bridges will be weighed at the Jema weighing station near Kintampo and the Yapei mobile weighing centre before they are allowed on the bridges,” he directed.

According to Mr. Amoako Atta, government took a bold decision to save lives by closing the bridges for repairs, as they were near collapse.

“The bridges as compared to what you are seeing today were so weak, swinging and there was so much vibration even with a motorbike on it,” he said.

He reassured the road users of government’s commitment to ensuring their safety saying, “the ministry through the Ghana Highways Authority wants to assure the general public that traffic will be managed to ensure safety of the general public.”

“Motorists travelling to and from the northern sector of Ghana are therefore advised to adhere to directional and safety signs that will be placed at appropriate sections.”

He gave a firm order that under no circumstance should an overloaded vehicle be allowed to cross the bridges.

“We had to carry out major rehabilitation works in order to prevent lives and property. We are going to regulate the axle loads on these bridges and we will monitor the activities of the axle load centres managers.”

“I want to warn them that anybody who goes contrary to the instructions that have been issued out the person will bear the consequences thereof.”

The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed described the rehabilitation works as a timely intervention.

“We thank the road users, our businessmen and women especially our farmers for their patience and cooperation.”

Salifu Saeed anticipated that the Savannah Cement (SAVACEM) company limited, manufacturers of diamond cement will resume production.

The Roads and Highways Minister earlier estimated that the temporary rehabilitation of the two major bridges would cost Ghc4 million.

He promised that rehabilitation of the two bridges would last for four weeks for which reason users should use alternative roads including the Eastern Corridor and the Wa to Techiman routes to the southern part of the country.

He implied that the temporary rehabilitation was only to allow road users use the bridges within the Christmas festivities, after which the construction of new bridges will start.

The Minister added that, construction of the Daboya bridge along that of Buipe and Yapei, will begin in 2018 and disclosed that each of the three new bridges will cost 25 million US dollars.

He commended the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for being instrumental in attempts to put in good shape the deplorable road network in the three regions of the north.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/ Ghana

The post Yapei, Buipe bridges reopened to motorists appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The company’s management suspended operations from the south to Tamale, following the temporary closure of the Buipe and Yapei bridges.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XcmrEgDJoGSGh6o5TODu4tfT70p4pmR4″]This is affecting most travelers who rely on the Intercity STC coaches for safety, reliability and comfort.

This unpleasant situation has incurred the wrath of Intercity STC users who are calling for a resumption of the services.

One of the affected users, McDonald T, narrated his frustration in a Citi News interview, saying, “In fact, it has been a problem for us who use STC. Assuming all the private transport service providers suspend their services, imagine the socio-economic implications.”

“We just want to appeal to those in charge especially Nana Akomea, to ensure that they reactivate the movement of STC coaches in the Northern Region. I want to appeal to the Speaker of Parliament as well, to look into this very issue. It is not the best for us at this time of our lives because we are losing money and other things.”

Buipe, Yapei bridge closure: Cars, passengers stranded

The temporary closure of the Buipe and Yapei bridges in the Central Gonja District of the Northern Region is affecting socioeconomic activities in the area and beyond.

Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta, ordered the temporary measure for routine maintenance ahead of the Christmas.

He estimated that the rehabilitation works would last for four weeks, and proposed that motorists should use the Eastern Corridor, Fufulso-Sawla and Central routes as alternatives.

Since the closure, motorists from the Sahel and Northern and Upper East Regions have been stranded at the bridges site due to the long hours they have to spend waiting to cross. Commercial transport service providers including the VVIP, are compelled to use the Salaga-Makango Ferry through Yeji to connect to the southern part of the country.

Transporters of perishable farm produce to the south, are in bad business because of the number of days they spend on the road.

The two main bridges connect Ghana to neighboring countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Togo. The proper construction of the Daboya bridge along that of Buipe and Yapei, will begin in 2018.

According to the Minister Roads and Highways, each of the three new bridges is estimated at 25 million US dollars each.

Afram Plains ferry relocated to Yeji-Buipe

Government has also temporally relocated the ferry at Afram Plains to Yeji-Buipe in the Northern Region, following the closure of bridges in the area for repairs and the subsequent traffic congestion in those areas.

The youth of Afram Plains had earlier rejected the relocation, and had vowed to do everything possible to stop government from doing so.

Speaking in a Citi News interview, a Deputy Minister of Transport, Daniel Titus-Glover, explained that, the ferry’s relocation was necessary to reduce the traffic congestion that had mounted, following the closure of the two bridges at Buipe and Yapei.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post STC users angry over suspension of services to Tamale appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The youth of Afram Plains had earlier rejected the relocation, and had vowed to do everything possible to stop government from doing so.

Speaking in a Citi News interview, a Deputy Minister of Transport, Daniel Titus-Glover, explained that, the ferry relocation was really necessary to reduce the traffic congestion that had mounted, following the closure of the two bridges at Buipe and Yapei.

[contextly_sidebar id=”e9AXDUtfngWsyqrlYp23ysBSR3Fql3KM”]“There is huge traffic congestion on the Yeji to Makango section, it is so discomforting for drivers and passengers on that stretch going to the north and coming down south. When you look at the traffic on the Afram Plains Agordeke-Kpando road, it’s quite less compared to what we are facing currently on the Yeji-Makango road. So initially the youth of Afram Plains were not happy about it.”

“Last night, the MCE did inform me that he has been able to speak to the youth to agree, after telling them that this is a national issue and we need their support in order to resolve this challenge. I’ve also spoken to the DCE who is at the banks of the River, making sure that the ferry will leave Agordeke, then we will have another one to come and stand in for that same route,” Titus Glover added.

He further appealed to the youth of Afram Plains to bear with them, saying “this is a national call and it can be their turn one day. The relocation will be done.”

The Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) closed down the Buipe and Yapei bridges last week for maintenance work to be carried on them.

The bridges have been in dilapidated conditions for some time now, thus posing a threat to motorists and pedestrians.

Youth resist relocation

Residents of Afraim Plains earlier complained that the ferry was their only means of transportation through the Agordeke-Kpando-Torkor route, hence relocating it will affect them.

The Member of Parliament for Afraim Plains, Betty Krosbi Mensah, had also urged government to reconsider the decision.

“The decision to take the ferry to Yeji was not something we were consulted about, we were not informed. We got it through grapevine that the Volta Lake transport was making arrangements to relocate our ferry to Yeji. The youth of the district went to the river boundary to prevent the movement from being done.”

“Subsequently, I did a follow up by calling on the Minister of Transport to inquire if he had given that directive, but the Minister said he wasn’t aware that such directive had been given, and that he was going to do a follow up and get back to me. Subsequently, the Minister called and said he had been briefed by his chief director, and that there was the need to send the ferry from Afram Plains to Yeji. Indeed I told him that it was something that we the people of Afram Plains are going to do everything humanly and legally possible to resist,” the MP added.

Parliament summons Roads Minister over closure of Buipe, Yapei bridges

Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta, who was summoned to Parliament over the closure, said the temporary measure was necessary for routine maintenance ahead of the Christmas season.

He estimated that the rehabilitation works would last for four weeks, and proposed that motorists should use the Eastern Corridor, Fufulso-Sawla and Central routes as alternatives.

The rehabilitation alone is to cost the state some Ghc4 million.

Since the closure, motorists from the Sahel and Northern and Upper East Regions have been stranded at the bridges site due to the long hours they have to spend waiting to cross.

Passengers in long vehicles are compelled to get down and walk across the bridge to continue the journey in standby buses at the other end.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Daboya bridge along that of Buipe and Yapei, will begin in 2018. Each of the three new bridges is estimated at 25 million US dollars.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Philip Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Afram Plains ferry relocated to Yeji-Buipe appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He suggests that the government sends a ferry to the area to help in the transportation of persons and goods from the North to the South.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pqJNouE0dCr0NCQ81lyBrR1jlmRc15WR”]According to Mr. Jinapor, the area has the infrastructure to support the transportation means if the government provides the ferries.

The bridge was closed down last week to allow repair works as it poses serious threats to both motorists and pedestrians.

But John Jinapor, who laments the effect the closure of the bridge is having on both local and international transportation, is calling for immediate action to address the challenges.

“Before the construction of the bridge, there was a ferry both on the Yapei and Buipe bridges so the infrastructure is already there. You will see where the ferries used to operate there. I’m surprised because this is not just for the Yapei Gushegu constituency, it is for all the neighboring countries; Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali. They all use this major trunk road so it can have a debilitating effect on revenue we get from the ports, but more importantly the transportation of foodstuff from the North. It is a major problem, and I wish government will expedite action on it,” he told Citi News.

The temporary closure of the Buipe and Yapei bridges in the Central Gonja District of the Northern Region is affecting socioeconomic activities in the area and beyond.

Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta ordered the temporary measure for routine maintenance ahead of the Christmas.

The Minister earlier in a Citi News interview posited that, the two bridges were near collapse, hence the closure.

He estimated that the rehabilitation works would last for four weeks, and proposed that motorists should use the Eastern Corridor, Fufulso-Sawla and Central routes as alternatives.

Since the closure, motorists from the Sahel and Northern and Upper East Regions, have been stranded due to the long hours they have to spend waiting to cross.

Passengers in long vehicles are compelled to get down and walk across the bridge to continue the journey in standby buses at the other end.

Parliament summons Roads Minister over closure of Buipe, Yapei bridges

The rehabilitation alone is to cost the state some Ghc4 million.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Daboya bridge along that of Buipe and Yapei, will begin in 2018. Each of the three new bridges is estimated at 25 million US dollars.

Parliament on Tuesday summoned the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwesi Amoako-Atta, over the seeming chaos that has characterized the closure of the Buipe and Yapei Bridge for rehabilitation works.

During parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday, the Minority Leader, Haruna Idrissu, said the Minister must brief the house about contingency arrangements made for travelers who will be affected by the closure of the bridges.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post MP appeals for alternative transport means in Yapei appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta ordered the temporary measure for routine maintenance ahead of the Christmas.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Tc4WrfDhv5xbDBk9HhmVDnr9k0Du3UpS”]The Minister earlier in a Citi News interview posited that the two bridges were near collapse, hence the closure.

He estimated that the rehabilitation works would last for four weeks, and proposed that motorists should use the Eastern Corridor, Fufulso-Sawla and Central routes as alternatives.

Since the closure, motorists from the Sahel and Northern and Upper East Regions have been stranded at the bridges site due to the long hours they have to spend waiting to cross.

Passengers in long vehicles are compelled to get down and walk across the bridge to continue the journey in standby buses at the other end.

Commercial transport service providers including the VVIP, are compelled to use the Salaga-Makango Ferry through Yeji to connect to the southern part of the country.

Transporters of perishable farm produce to the south are in bad business because of the number of days they spend on the road.

They have therefore pleaded with government to fast track the rehabilitation works.

The two main bridges connect Ghana to neighboring countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Togo.   The proper construction of the Daboya bridge along that of Buipe and Yapei, will begin in 2018.

According to the Minister Roads and Highways, each of the three new bridges is estimated at 25 million US dollars each.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Buipe, Yapei bridge closure: Cars stranded, passengers journey on foot appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The bridges have been in dilapidated conditions for some time now, thus posing as a threat to motorists and pedestrians.

“The Ghana Highway Authority wishes to inform the general public that due to the poor condition of the Buipe and Yapei bridges ,they will be closed to vehicular usage from Monday 2oth November, 2017,” a statement for GHA stated.

The Highways Authority in September 2017 set load limits for vehicles using the said bridges on the Kintampo-Tamale trunk road to save the bridges from further deterioration.

Only vehicles weighing 20 tons were allowed to cross the bridge.

The statement however gave the following alternative routes to be used by drivers, while the bridges remain closed:

WESTERN CORRIDOR: Accra – Kumasi – Techiman – Wenchi – Bamboi – Bole – Wa

EASTERN CORRIDOR: Accra – Tema – Hohoe – Jasikan – Nkwanta – Oti Damanko – Bimbila – Yendi

CENTRAL CORRIDOR: Accra – Kumasi – Mampong – Ejura – Atebubu – Yeji (Ferry Crossing) – Salaga

OR

Kintampo – Techiman – Nkoranza – Ejura – Atebubu – Yeji (Ferry Crossing) – Salaga

WESTERN/CENTRAL CORRIDOR: Tarkoradi – Tarkwa – Bogosu – Ayamfuri – Dunkwa – Obuasi – Kumasi – Techiman – Wenchi – Bamboi – Bole – Wa

The Highways Authority further pleaded with the public to bear with them “as we take measures to repair the bridges and prevent any catastrophe.”

Bridge constructed over 50 years ago

Reports indicate that, the Yapei bridge was constructed some 53 years ago, and has received only minor maintenance works.

$75m for reconstruction

The Roads and Highways Minister, Akwasi Amoako Atta, had in September 2017 stated that government was seeking about $75 million for the reconstruction of the bridges.

He said Cabinet had already discussed the need to build completely two new bridges at Buipe and Yapei, and at the same time build another one at Daboya to serve as alternative for the travelling public.

Each of the three bridges he said was estimated to cost not less than 25 million dollars.

“Our Technical team has already conducted feasibility studies on the three bridges, and also done with cost analysis, and I tell you we are going to build those bridges,” he said.

The Finance Minister, while presenting the 2018 budget statement in Parliament last week, also disclosed that government has earmarked some bridges to be reconstructed.

They include “Daboya Bridge, Nawumi Bridge, Yapei Bridge, Buipe Bridge, Lawra- Dikpe bridge, Prima-Misio Bridge” as well as 99 steel bridges.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Dilapidated Buipe, Yapei bridges to be closed on Monday appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Chief Executive Officer of SADA, Mr. Charles Abugre who disclosed this on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday explained that the amount is modest looking at the inputs involved adding that the project which will be launched in April 2017 will help double the revenue generated by the assemblies in question.

The novel Property Tax Collection System will be used by the Tamale, Buipe and Sangnerigu assemblie to mobilise levies and other fees from landed property owners in the area.

According Mr. Abugre, SADA will invest about $500,000 into the project while the three assemblies will provide the rest of the funding.

“Our cost is in the technical expertise for developing the project and secondly in the course of collecting the data which is the drone flights and satellite imagery among others. I think all of that on our side will cost about half a million dollars. It is really quite cheap. When it is all finished, when you add up all the district assemblies and all their inputs and time to get it up and running in the way it is in the specification, it will be not more than a million dollars. This is a really cheap investment. If you find out how much it cost to even do the collection of the data under LAP 1 that the World Bank and other paid for, you will find that this is a very modest investment,” he clarified.

The property tax system developed by SADA in collaboration with other institutions is said to be the outcome of a database collection process that began in 2017 and resulted in the registration of all landed properties in the jurisdictions of the three assemblies.

Mr. Abugre further observed that the project if replicated in areas will help district assemblies attain financial independence.

“If you do this in Takoradi, Accra, and in the main towns, you will realize that these districts do not need to be part of the district assemblies’ common fund, they have enough funds they are not collecting, and they should collect it,” the SADA CEO added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post SADA’s property addressing system to cost about $1 million – CEO appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.