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26.07.2012 Politics

Ellembelle Faults Bridge Closure

26.07.2012 LISTEN
By Daily Guide

 A NUMBER of people have cried foul over the closure of a bridge spanning the River Amanzule near Alabokazo in the Ellembelle district of the Western region to traffic saying it was politically motivated to disrupt New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo from carrying out his 'Listening Tour' in that area.

Whether or not that was the motive, one thing which is clear is that the people in the area especially pregnant women and the sick are finding it difficult to access St. Martin de Porres Hospital, the biggest most well-equipped and highly patronized hospital in the area.

The sad bit about the situation is that instead of dismantling the

Amanzule Bailey Bridge on Wednesday, July 25, as announced on Ankobra Fm, a local radio station near Axim, the exercise was carried out on Monday, July 23, the very day Nana Akufo-Addo was to cross over that bridge from Eikwe to Aiyinasi and other towns and villages in the Ellembelle district to hold some rallies.

A cross section of taxi drivers interviewed by DAILY GUIDE stressed that government or the powers that be in the district should have given them enough notice before closing the bridge since that stretch of road was vital to the sick, taxi drivers and traders in general.

Many people in the area feel that the Ghana Highway Authority or Department of Feeder Roads as well as the political pundits in the district should have at least known and realized that hospital attendance in the area was always high on Mondays before deciding to close the bridge that day.

Many pregnant women who were supposed to attend hospital had a hard time crossing over and some had to be led to walk over slowly in order to cross the bridge.

Another bridge over the Subri River near Esiama had been dismantled but Nana Akufo-Addo and his entourage walked across it to show the world that he was no different from any other ordinary Ghanaian.

He walked the almost 400 meters from the bridge at the

outskirts of Esiama to the rally grounds near the Methodist Church in the town where he addressed party supporters and people in the area.

Nana Addo said he was ready to fix the economy if given the mandate by the people in the upcoming general elections adding 'we have the people in NPP and Ghana has the resources, so we can push the country forward.'

  By Sam Mark Essien, Alabokazo
 

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